FC Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

FC Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids
2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 6
Toyota Stadium – Frisco
8:00 pm ET – April 7, 2018
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As one of two remaining undefeated teams in MLS, a rested FC Dallas (1-0-2) is hoping to continue their form to start the season, while the Colorado Rapids (1-1-1) are on a Rocky Mountain high following a 3-0 victory over the previously undefeated Philadelphia Union.

With five of the last seven meetings ending in draws, here’s hoping history doesn’t repeat itself in Frisco on Saturday night.

FC Dallas

It was back to the laboratory for Oscar Pareja with a bye week coming on the heels of a 1-1 draw against the Portland Timbers on March 24.

While Paxton Pomykal had successful surgery to remove damaged tissue from the meniscus in his right knee, which will sideline him from 4-6 weeks, Kellyn Acosta is getting closer to his return from sports hernia surgery, training on the side.

“I’m progressing. It’s nice kind of getting back in the training,” Acosta told the Dallas Morning News. “I’ve been on the outside looking in, now I’m getting back in so I’m happy about that.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: M - Kellyn Acosta (sports hernia surgery), M - Brandon Servania (compartment syndrome), F - Jesus Ferreira (core muscle repair surgery), M - Paxton Pomykal (right meniscus surgery); QUESTIONABLE: GK - Jesse Gonzalez (right knee), D - Anton Nedyalkov (undisclosed)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Jimmy Maurer — Reggie Cannon, Matt Hedges, Reto Ziegler, Anton Nedyalkov — Carlos Gruezo, Jacori Hayes — Michael Barrios, Mauro Diaz, Roland Lamah, Maxi Urruti

Notes: Roland Lamah has scored five goals in his last four league appearances for FC Dallas, as many as he had in his previous 18 games for them. … FC Dallas is unbeaten in their last nine home league games (3W-6D) and has only lost twice in their last 22 MLS home games (11W-9D). They have conceded just three goals in their last six home league games.

Colorado Rapids

What a night for Dominique Badji, who struck for his first professional hat trick against the Union and became the first Rapids player since Sanna Nyassi in July, 2011 to score three goals in a match. He was named to the MLS Team of the Week presented by Audi for Week 5, along with center back Deklan Wynne, and also earned a spot on Andrew Wiebe’s All-Underrated Best XI.

It was the first win of the season for the Rapids, and first for new head coach Anthony Hudson. But now the focus turns to a Western Conference clash with FC Dallas

“I think everyone is pleased with their work, I think it’s been a culmination of many weeks of hard, progression and we’re pleased we all got our rewards,” Hudson said. “But today, and yesterday postgame, everyone is focused on improving. We’re still a team in transition, still a team building and the we’ve forgotten on the result and focused on the next game and improving.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Kortne Ford (left MCL sprain), F - Shkelzen Gashi (calf); QUESTIONABLE: D - Danny Wilson (undisclosed), D - Marlon Hairston (undisclosed)

Projected Starting XI
(3-5-2, right to left)
GK: Tm Howard — Deklan Wynne, Axel Sjoberg, Tommy Smith — Dillon Serna, Johan Blomberg, Jack Price, Enzo Martinez, Edgar Castillo — Joe Mason, Dominique Badji

Notes: Dominique Badji’s hat trick last weekend is just the second by a Rapids player in MLS play since the start of the 2010 season. … Colorado has only won once in their last 19 road games, dating back to the start of the 2017 season (16L-2D). They have scored just eight goals in those 19 games and have failed to score multiple goals in a single match in that time.

All-Time Series

Overall: FC Dallas 32 wins, 109 goals … Colorado Rapids 22 wins, 85 goals … Ties 16
At Dallas: FC Dallas 23 wins, 64 goals … Rapids 8 wins, 38 goals … Ties 5
Last meeting at Dallas: FC Dallas 2, Colorado Rapids 0 (Sept. 27, 2017)