Houston Dynamo vs. Colorado Rapids | 2020 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 24
Houston Dynamo vs. Colorado Rapids
BBVA Stadium – Houston
November 8 – 6:30 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada

LOCAL TV: Altitude, QuestTEXAS Ch. 55

The Colorado Rapids are into the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2016, ending a three-year absence, but they're not just happy to be there. Robin Fraser's squad are looking to improve their seeding when they take on the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Stadium on Decision Day presented by AT&T.

The Rapids (7W-6L-4D) booked their spot on Wednesday, beating the Portland Timbers 1-0. It was Colorado's second straight win over a team that was atop the Western Conference. The Rapids reaching the postseason is a testament to the team Fraser built considering the team were sidelined for a month due to a COVID-19 outbreak.

Playoff scenarios:How Decision Day could impact the playoff field
What's at stake: Key races to watch for during Decision Day's 13 games
Playoff schedule:Match schedule, dates, times and TV details

The Dynamo (4W-9L-9D) would like to end the season on a high note, snap a six-match winless streak and move out of last place in the Western Conference to close out Tab Ramos' first season as head coach.

The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Lalas Abubakar hit for the equalizer for the Rapids six minutes into second-half stoppage time, leaving the teams in a 1-1 draw Sept. 9 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Houston Dynamo

The Dynamo were officially eliminated from contention for the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs in a 3-0 loss to FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium last Saturday. Where did it go wrong for Houston? Ramos points to seven draws that he thinks should have been wins. But now his focus turns forward facing.

"Now we have to start looking into the future, and maybe fitting in some pieces that we feel for the way we want to play that fit in a little bit better ... this is a conversation we'll have to have in the offseason, and see how many changes we can make and how we can start building the team a little bit differently," he said.

Darwin Quintero heads into Decision Day with the chance of becoming the first player in Dynamo club history to lead the club in both goals and assists in the same season. Quintero has 7 goals and 10 assists.

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Michael Salazar (F) - right knee injury
Suspended: Matias Vera (M)
Suspended after next caution: Memo Rodriguez (M), Boniek Garcia (M), Darwin Quintero (M), Matas Vera (M)
International duty: None

Colorado Rapids

The Rapids started 2020 with two straight wins, then came the four-month pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Upon returning at the MLS is Back Tournament, Colorado failed to advance from the group stage and proceed to go winless in seven games.

They then turned the corner by winning three of four during a September stretch, only for a COVID-19 outbreak to force another month-long pause. After a slow return, they’ve now won back-to-back games over two of the West’s top teams in Portland and Seattle to clinch a playoff berth that Fraser dubbed “rewarding.”

“I think it speaks to the character of the team,” Robin Fraser said. “Certainly coming off the break that we had and all the conditions that surrounded it, it was always going to be difficult to get ourselves up to speed quickly and really tremendous credit to the team for doing everything they needed to and fighting through some tough games to find their form again. I think it's a group that will continue to fight for each other and it's really a fun team to be a part of.”

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Kortne Ford (D) - knee injury
- OUT: Collen Warner (M) - undisclosed injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: Lalas Abubakar (D), Jack Price (M)
International duty: None