After getting beaten by a fairly lowly Seattle team which took a chunk out of the Rapids playoff hopes, Colorado will return home today to face a surprisingly spry FC Dallas team with very important playoff points on the line.
Dallas' year has gone just about the opposite of the Rapids year, starting with only two wins in their first ten games but recently surging with a 4-0-3 record to wind up at 6-2-8 in total, good for sole possession of third place in the West. The Rapids on the other hand started the year incredibly above expectations and then quickly plummeted, going winless since June 5th when they defeated Columbus. With that losing surge the Rapids have dropped down to being tied for fourth in the West with San Jose, the Earthquakes having the game in hand.
Conor Casey's serious looking head injury last week appears to be healing well, and Conor is being listed as probable on the Rapids official injury report.
One interesting story to follow is to see if Anthony Wallace starts or plays at all for the Rapids, he was traded from FC Dallas for a 4th round draft pick yesterday. The left-back could play against his former team immediately. And hey, if he scores a goal somehow Gary Smith is going to look like a genius, eh?
The Rapids have only lost once against Dallas in their last six meetings and hold a winning record overall at Dick's Sporting Goods Park all time, at 2-1-1. The game starts at Dick's at 2 PM Mountain Time.