Thirteenth-place FC Dallas (2-6-5, 11 points) visits fourth-place Colorado Rapids (6-3-3, 21 points) tonight at 8:00 pm CT. It’s the third and final meeting between the teams this season.
Gameday Social: #COLvDAL
TV: 8:00 pm on TXA 21 and FCDTV Network (English)
Streaming: 8:00 pm on FCDallas.com/Stream
Radio: 8:00 pm CT on FCDallas.com/Radio (English) and 1270AM (Spanish)
Buzz’s FCD Lineup Predction
I think in the mind of the coaching staff they will look at the game in Portland and think they had some things to work with. That means there won’t be a whole lot of changes. That includes the Frano Jara at 9 playing hold-up style.
Unfortunately, I don’t believe – but hope I am wrong – that Paxton Pomykal can start again this quickly. And since no other wings have really blown us away, I’ll shift Ryan Hollingshead back to left wing and put Johnny Nelson at left back. Outside chance Jader Obrian just replaces Pomykal.
The wild card? How about a first start for Szabolcs Schön? Could that come on the road?
Bench Prediction
Phelipe
Andres Ricaurte
Paxton Pomykal
Jader Obrian
Freddy Vargas
Dante Sealy
Szabolcs Schön
Ema Twumasi
Brandon Servania
MLS Player Availability Report
FC Dallas
- OUT: Beni Redžić (ankle sprain)
- OUT: Matt Hedges (hip)
- OUT: Kyle Zobeck (quad)
- OUT: Jose Martinez (thigh)
- OUT: Bryan Acosta (international duty)
Colorado Rapids
- OUT: Younes Namli (undisclosed injury)
- OUT: Jonathan Lewis (international duty)
- OUT: Sam Vines (international duty)
- OUT: Kellyn Acosta (international duty)
Potential Suspensions
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD:
COL: Jack Price, Danny Wilson
DAL: Bressan, Andres Ricuarte
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS:
COL: Diego Rubio
DAL: Bryan Acosta, Franco Jara, Jader Obrian
Officials
REFEREE: Jon Freemon.
AR1 (bench): Ian Anderson;
AR2 (opposite): Cory Richardson;
4th: Alyssa Nichols;
VAR: Matt Franz;
AVAR: Fabio Tovar
Freemon MLS Career:
5 games;
FC/gm: 29.8;
Y/gm: 4.4;
R: 0;
pens: 0
Kit Assignments
More Game Info
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD:
Rapids 25 wins (1 shootout), 96 goals
FC Dallas 34 wins (2 shootout), 117 goals
Ties 18
AT COLORADO:
Rapids 17 wins (0 shootout), 55 goals
FC Dallas 11 wins (0 shootout), 46 goals
Ties 9
The Rapids extended their undefeated run to three games with a second draw in that time, reaching a 1-1 result with the San Jose Earthquakes at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening.
The Rapids have won the last three meetings with FCD in Commerce City, their first home wins in the series since 2013, a five-game home winless run; the teams had reached four consecutive 1-1 draws there.
The Rapids have scored in 31 consecutive MLS matches at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park, the longest active home scoring streak in MLS.
Since 1996, FC Dallas has an overall record of 53-42-25 during the month of July with a 0.546 winning percentage.
FC Dallas Homegrowns have played 3,049 minutes and have made 61 appearances in the past 12 matches during the 2021 season.
FC Dallas is 22nd in the league with 21 goals allowed through 13 games, while Colorado is tied for third with 13 goals conceded.
FC Dallas has allowed the most goals (6) during the final 15 minutes of the first half, while the Colorado Rapids have not allowed a goal in the final 15 minutes all season and have conceded an MLS-low four second-half goals this
season.
FC Dallas had a 1-2-0 record in games decided by one goal in 2021, while the Colorado Rapids are 2-1-0 in games decided by one goal.
Since 2015, FCD is 74-5-18 when scoring first.
Since 2015, FC Dallas has a 0.891 winning percentage and 75-3-14 when scoring at least two goals.
50 FCD APPEARANCES
Paxton Pomykal (51)
Bryan Acosta (49)
Bressan (48)
50 FC DALLAS STARTS
Jesús Ferreira (47)
Bryan Acosta (45)
Jimmy Maurer (41)
Buzz, I understand that your prediction isn’t what you would do, but gee whiz that lineup is a downer. And it doesn’t make any sense to me (the lineup, not your prediction). That lineup isn’t one designed to pressure the Colorado defense at all. A big part of that is Jara, but Hohead isn’t the answer at wing. How does Luchi expect to create any space? That lineup isn’t going to stretch anyone vertically or horizontally. So Colorado can stay compact and deny Jesus space, and if Colorado does that, who is going create for FCD? I don’t see anyone in the lineup that is a threat to beat anyone off the dribble. And I don’t see a squad that would be able to break down a defense with good off-the-ball movement and quick passing. It’s certainly not a lineup designed to get out on the counter. Outside of a big error by Colorado, I don’t see that lineup being capable of scoring in the run of play. If Luchi isn’t going all in on the kids, he has to be chasing wins in an attempt to keep his job doesn’t he?
Buzz, you’re generally close with the lineup predictions and I get your rationale about why Luchi would keep the lineup similar. For what it’s worth, I think FCD played a lot better against Portland, though that’s a very, very low bar. But if Pax isn’t available (and I hope he isn’t–don’t push it), that’s a big difference. FCD doesn’t have anyone that is a like-for-like replacement for Pax. Taking him out changes the whole dynamic. Hohead just cannot do what Pax does. So expecting a similar performance out of a lineup that is substantially different (even if it’s just one player) seems foolish to me.
Everything you said is on point. My read is that Luchi is trying to grind out close games and steal points on the road. Hence the continuation of this lineup. The idea of for Jara to play post up and hold long enough for Dallas to get out of their end. Hence the idea of guys he trusts (Ryan) over guys he doesn’t. Keep in close then bring on someone who can break it open like a Sealy, Obrian, or Schon at the end.
But you may be right, he may go against the grain. I would love to see Pepi at 9. Start someone with verticality. I just don’t think he will. but like you seem to be saying, I hope I am wrong.