The Impact returns home this Saturday, at Stade Saputo, to play the Colorado Rapids at 4pm EDT (RDS [pregame show at 3:30pm], 98,5fm & TSN Radio 690 [pregame show at 3pm]). Here are 10 things to know about the Rapids.
Context
The Rapids (5-2-1, 16 pts) will walk into Stade Saputo with plenty of confidence. They sit in second place in the Western Conference after stringing three wins together. The last one of these saw Jermaine Jones, Luis Solignac and Kevin Doyle score in a convincing 3-1 win over Seattle. During this series, the Rapids also notched their first away win of the season – 2-1 at Kansas City.
Current form
D-W-L-W-W-W
Head coach
Pablo Mastroeni (22-35-19 all-time as Colorado Rapids head coach) became Rapids head coach on March 8, 2014. A Colorado club icon, Mastroeni played there from 2002 to 2013. He played a half-season with the LA Galaxy in late 2013, retired and swiftly agreed to take over from head coach Oscar Pareja, who left for FC Dallas, on an interim basis. On the field, Mastroeni was tough to play against. And judging from how his Rapids play, Mastroeni the coach isn’t too dissimilar from Mastroeni the player.
Current top scorer
Luis Solignac (3)
Players to watch
1. Jermaine Jones (#13) – Traded to Colorado in March, suspended until mid-April, Jones nevertheless got back into the saddle in no time: he’s played two games, scored two goals and provided one assist.
2. Shkëlzen Gashi (#11) – The Rapids’ other big offseason acquisition. Gashi is creative, efficient and hardworking – there’s no reason for Mastroeni not to love him.
3. Micheal Azira (#22) – Second to Osvaldo Alonso in Seattle’s hierarchy, Azira has now played every Rapids game this season. His work allows his teammates to express themselves a bit more.
Team profile
The Rapids can count on a handful of creative players that rely on a solid and sturdy base. Top scorer Solignac’s remains well aware of the movements of his partners, such as Badji – whose runs behind the defence can catch the opponent off-guard – and Gashi – who cuts inside and slips fine balls into space. The team transitions into the attack rather quickly, taking advantage of its low block to spring forward. The arrival of Jermaine Jones in the No. 10 position, however, gives the team more bite in midfield and could translate into more balls recovered high up the field – although Mastroeni seems to keep Jones’ defensive responsibilities to a minimum. Colorado’s defence is pretty compact, and while it could gain more understanding still, this team has posted the best defensive record in its Conference thus far. Nevertheless, the back four sometimes struggle in shifting from side to side, and space down the flanks can be exploited.
Tactical formation
Pablo Mastroeni hasn’t moved away from 4-2-3-1 this season. Lineup v. Seattle (April 23): MacMath; Miller, Burling, Sjöberg, Williams; Cronin, Azira; Badji, Jones, Gashi; Solignac.
Against the Impact last season
The Impact won the only meeting between the two teams last season, on October 10, 2015. On the road to the MLS Cup Playoffs, the Impact went to Colorado and left with a 1-0 win, thanks to a Didier Drogba free-kick goal in the first quarter-hour.
Injuries (as of April 29)
D Sean St. Ledger (knee surgery)
D Marlon Hairston (hamstring injury)
M Marco Pappa (sprained knee)
D Jared Watts (hamstring injury)
Next games
Colorado Rapids v. Real Salt Lake (MLS, May 7)
Colorado Rapids v Sporting Kansas City (MLS, May 11)
Columbus Crew SC v. Colorado Rapids (MLS, May 14
