COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Macoumba Kandji is going to get his chance, and the Rapids are getting a new look.
Colorado’s new signing is expected to start up top with Omar Cummings against the visiting Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, giving the former New York Red Bulls scoring threat his first real opportunity to star with a fellow speedster on his new club.
Kandji will start in place of Conor Casey, who will serve a one-game suspension Wednesday for yellow card accumulation. Although Kandji has said recently that he prefers a 4-3-3 formation that allows for some fluidity and flexibility, it’s more than likely that Kandji and Cummings will go it alone with Brian Mullan and Jamie Smith on the wings of a 4-4-2 formation.
[inline_node:317753]In last weekend’s game against Real Salt Lake, Cummings stayed behind in Colorado to nurse an ankle injury and Kandji lasted three quarters of the game alongside Casey.
But with Cummings back in the mix against the Union, the dynamic duo up top should be exciting for Rapids fans as they ponder a final push to the playoffs. The Rapids have won their last three home games by 3-0 margins, and there is an expectation the home team won’t falter in the run-in.
Even more goals, perhaps, could be in store against Philadelphia. That’s because the new lineup should create a lot of pace, perhaps fewer balls in the middle and plenty of individual runs at the Union defense.
“I take people one on one every time I have the chance to,” Kandji told MLSsoccer.com after his debut against New England on Sept. 18. “The coaches motivate me to take people on one on one.”
The only caveat is that Kandji is yet to last a full 90 minutes as he adjusts to the altitude. Cummings, meanwhile, is still not 100 percent back from the ankle injury, and he might not be able to go the full 90 minutes on Wednesday.
Backup options include regular substitute Quincy Amarikwa as well as rookie Andre Akpan, who got his first 15 minutes of fame with his MLS league debut back in the 3-0 victory over Chivas USA Sept. 4.
Some may hesitate to think of inexperienced players coming into the action at such a crucial time of the season, but Rapids head coach Gary Smith has shown he is willing to make such a move. He dropped rookie midfielder Ross LaBaeux into the cauldron of the Rio Tinto Stadium last weekend against Real Salt Lake.
