New York City FC vs. Colorado Rapids | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

New York City FC vs. Colorado Rapids
2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 12
Yankee Stadium — Bronx
May 19 - 1:00 pm ET
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New York City FC had a positive response from the New York Derby shellacking to play LAFC to a pulsating 2-2 draw on Sunday, while the Colorado Rapids hope for a better result than against the other New York side as they come off a 2-1 home loss to the New York Red Bulls, their fourth in a row.

NYCFC won the only other meeting between these teams in the Bronx, beating the Rapids, 5-1, on July 30, 2016 with Frank Lampard netting a hat trick and Tony Taylor and Steven Mendoza each adding a goal apiece.

New York City FC

Patrick Vieira made just one change from side that lost 4-0 to the Red Bulls the previous week with Sebastien Ibeagha stepping in for an injured Maxime Chanot in central defense.

It was an own goal, though, by Ibeagha that leveled for LAFC after David Villa followed his saved penalty kick with his fifth goal of the season. Nine minutes after Carlos Vela put the hosts in front, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi continued his incredible tear, coming off the bench to score his fifth goal of the season as NYCFC (6-2-3) and LAFC shared the points on Sunday night in Los Angeles.

“It’s been a difficult week after everything that happened the other day with the Red Bulls,” Villa said after the match. “The team reacted well after a difficult week. We are trying to forget what happened there every day, but it’s always going to be complicated. But what’s important is that the team came out playing energized and has had moments in the game where it has stepped in and taken its place on the field. It’s important for us to get this point.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: M - Alex Ring, M - Yangel Herrera
International duty: None
Injury Report: QUESTIONABLE: D - Maxime Chanot (undisclosed injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Sean Johnson — Anton Tinnerholm, Sebastien Ibeagha, Alexander Callens, Ben Sweat — Yangel Herrera, Alex Ring — Jesus Medina, Maxi Moralez, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi — David Villa

Notes: Yangel Herrera has been fouled an average of 3.1 times per game this season, the fourth most of any MLS player. … After starting the season by winning five of their first six games, NYCFC has won just one of their last five league games (2L-2D), allowing an average of 2.4 goals per game.

Colorado Rapids

Anthony Hudson made two changes to the squad that lost to Sporting Kansas City, 1-0, the previous week, bringing Bismark Boateng on for Kip Colvey and Yannick Boli for Dominique Badji, who suffered a hamstring injury in pregame warmups.

Danny Royer put the Red Bulls in front after just five minutes and Derrick Etienne Jr. followed with a debated second in the 76th minute on Video Review after the goal was initially ruled offside. Jack McBean pulled Colorado (2-5-2) within a goal five minutes from full time, but the Rapids couldn’t find the late equalizer and suffered a third consecutive one-goal defeat.

“In spite of the last three games, I thought the players, the mentality, the attitude, the drive throughout the game I thought was outstanding,” Hudson said after the match. “I think we played good football. … I’m proud of the players. I couldn’t have asked for any more from the players.”

Suspended: M - Jack Price
Suspended after next caution: F - Dominique Badji
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Kortne Ford (left MCL sprain), D - Marlon Hairston (right knee surgery)

Projected Starting XI
(3-5-2, right to left)
GK: Tim Howard — Deklan Wynne, Danny Wilson, Tommy Smith — Bismark Boateng, Enzo Martinez, Michael Azira, Sam Nicholson, Edgar Castillo — Joe Mason, Yannick Boli

Notes: Édgar Castillo won four fouls against the Red Bulls last weekend, just the fifth Rapids players to do so in a MLS match since the start of last season. … The Rapids have lost four straight league games, getting outscored 8-2 in the process. They have not lost five straight since Apr. 9-May 5, 2017 (35 games since).