The Colorado Rapids take on Toronto FC today for the second time this season. Their first meeting at Dick’s SportingGoodsPark ended 3-1 in favor of the home side, who won in part thanks to Conor Casey finding the net on two penalty kicks.
The Rapids are currently on an unbeaten streak of six games, consisting of three wins and three draws. Their 6-3-4 record has them solidly in third place of the West with 22 points. Toronto is 5-4-4 and sit in third place of the East.
The Rapids will be playing without midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy due to immigration paperwork problems keeping him from leaving the USA. Ballouchy had a goal disallowed on a delayed offside call as well as a howitzer of a shot that rattled the crossbar in the Rapids last game against New York, so his presence will be missed against Toronto. There is no word on who will replace him or if coach Gary Smith will change to a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3 formation in his absence.
A win or at the very least a draw in Toronto is important to the Rapids’ spot in the standings, with FC Dallas sitting only one point behind Colorado in the standings and playing the seventh place Seattle Sounders on Sunday.
The Rapids have never won a game against Toronto FC in Canada. This is their fourth visit to Toronto's BMO Field.
