Colorado Rapids vs. FC Dallas | 2017 MLS Match Preview

Sam Stejskal

Colorado Rapids vs. FC Dallas
2017 MLS Regular Season
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park – Commerce City, Colo.
Saturday, Oct. 7 – 9 pm ET
WATCH: MLS LIVE

Three games. Three finals.

Players and coaches can occasionally overstate the importance of individual matches, but FC Dallas are right to approach their final three contests as do-or-die encounters.

FCD have had a shocking few months, putting together a 1-6-5 record over their last 12 matches to fall from the perch atop the Western Conference to underneath the playoff line and into eighth-place heading into Saturday’s match.

The one saving grace? They’re 1-0-1 in their last two matches, a scoreless draw at Orlando last Saturday and a 2-0 home win against Colorado on Sept. 27.

They’ll face the Rapids again on Saturday, this time at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Colorado are one of three teams who have been eliminated from contention for the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs, but did win their last match, beating Montreal 2-1 at home last weekend. They’ll look to make it two-in-a-row and improve their 2017 home record to 8-5-3 against FCD.

Colorado Rapids

Suspended: D Jared Watts (red card)
Suspended after next caution: D Mekeil Williams, M Michael Azira
International Duty: GK Tim Howard (USA), D Mekeil Williams (T&T)
Injury Report: QUESTIONABLE: M Micheal Azira (ankle injury)

Projected Lineup
(4-2-3-1, left to right)
GK: Zac MacMath – Eric Miller, Kortne Ford, Axel Sjoberg, Mike da Fonte – Micheal Azira, Nana Boateng – Marlon Hairston, Stefan Aigner, Josh Gatt – Dominique Badji

Notes: The Rapids have won just one of their last seven home games against FC Dallas, and have played the Texas club to three consecutive 1-1 draws in Commerce City … Alan Gordon scored his third goal of the season last week against Montreal. All three of his goals this year have been game-winners, all coming after the 80th minute and all giving the Rapids 2-1 wins at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

FC Dallas

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: D Hernan Grana, M Carlos Gruezo
International Duty: M Kellyn Acosta (USA), D Maynor Figueroa (HON)
Injury Report: None

Projected Lineup
(4-2-3-1, left to right)
GK: Jesse Gonzalez – Ryan Hollingshead, Matt Hedges, Walker Zimmerman, Hernan Grana – Carlos Gruezo, Victor Ulloa – Tesho Akindele, Mauro Diaz, Roland Lamah – Maxi Urruti

Notes: Last Saturday’s draw at Orlando extended Dallas’ road winless streak to six matches, their longest stretch without an away victory since an eight-match run in 2014 … Jesse Gonzalez recorded his second consecutive shutout in last week’s 0-0 draw at Orlando, recording five saves against the Lions. He now has nine shutouts on the season, part of a three-way tie for third-most in MLS in 2017.

All-Time Series

Overall: Colorado 22 wins (1 shootout; 84 goals), Dallas 32 wins (2 shootout; 108 goals), 15 draws
At Colorado: Colorado 14 wins (0 shootout; 46 goals), Dallas 9 wins (0 shootout; 44 goals), 10 draws