Colorado Rapids vs. Philadelphia Union | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Colorado Rapids vs. Philadelphia Union
2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 5
Dick's Sporting Goods Park — Commerce City, Colorado
9:00 pm ET – March 31, 2018
WATCH: MLS LIVE

It was a dream start for the Colorado Rapids and an all-too-familiar ending when they settled for a 2-2 draw against Sporting Kansas City to spoil their 2018 MLS home opener last Saturday.

The undefeated Philadelphia Union hit the road for the first time this season, their bye week coming off the heels of an impressive 0-0 draw with Columbus Crew SC.

Colorado Rapids

Dominique Badji scored just five minutes in and the crowd at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park had barely settled back into their seats when Joe Mason struck for his first MLS goal on his debut just three minutes later.

At halftime, it appeared the Rapids were well on their way to a stirring home-opening win, but Felipe Gutierrez and Diego Rubio struck for second-half goals for visiting Sporting Kansas City.

Tim Howard made seven saves and was named to the MLS Team of the Week presented by Audi for Week 4.

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Kortne Ford (left MCL sprain); F - Shkelzen Gashi (calf)

Projected Starting XI
(3-5-2, right to left)
GK: Tim Howard — Deklan Wynne, Danny Wilson, Tommy Smith — Marlon Hairston, Johan Blomberg, Jack Price, Enzo Martinez, Edgar Castillo — Joe Mason, Dominique Badji

Notes: Two of the three goals the Rapids have scored this season have come in the opening 15 minutes of matches. Columbus are the only other club with multiple goals in that time. … The Rapids are unbeaten in their last five home games (2W-3D). They have conceded multiple goals just once over this run.

Philadelphia Union

There’s only five MLS teams still without a loss and the Philadelphia Union are one of them. After securing four out of a possible six points at Talen Energy Stadium, the Union take their show on the road where they were 1-10-6 in 2017.

“Most importantly we know that when you go on the road, the challenges that presents,” Philadelphia Union coach Jim Curtin said. “It’s about us as a team. We need to be the team that is on the ball trying to dictate possession, creating chances and again we’ll ask our guys to be as brave as they were at Talen Energy Stadium to be that brave on the road when we go and tackle a tough opponent at altitude and all the things that come along with that.”

Suspended: M - Fafa Picault
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Fabinho (meniscus tear, MLS sprain); D - Richie Marquez (sports hernia surgery); QUESTIONABLE: M - Ilsinho (right hamstring strain)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Andre Blake — Keegan Rosenberry, Jack Elliott, Auston Trusty, Raymon Gaddis — Haris Medunjanin, Alejandro Bedoya — Fabian Herbers, Borek Dockal, David Accam — C.J. Sapong

Notes: The Union are winless in their last 12 league away matches, the longest such streak in team history. They are averaging just 0.7 goals per game across those 12 matches. … The Union’s Alejandro Bedoya leads the league in expected assists with an expected total of 1.65. However, he has recorded just one assist so far this season.

All-Time Series

Overall: Rapids 3 wins, 16 goals … Union 2 wins, 13 goals … Ties 5
At Colorado: 1 win, 7 goals … Union 1 win, 5 goals … Ties 2
Last meeting at Colorado: Colorado Rapids 1, Philadelphia Union 1 (May 28, 2016)