DC United vs. Colorado Rapids | 2018 MLS Match Preview

D.C. United vs. Colorado Rapids
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 22
Audi Field — Washington
July 28 - 8 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

After suffering their first loss at Audi Field — to the Atlantic Cup rival New York Red Bulls no less — D.C. United are looking to rebound Saturday night against a Colorado Rapids squad that has just one win away from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park this season.

The Rapids come to the nation’s capital with back-to-back draws, including rallying for a 2-2 draw against Rocky Mountain Cup rival Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium last Saturday.

D.C. United

D.C. United (3-9-5) fell in a hole just two minutes after a kickoff that was delayed nearly an hour because of inclement weather and could never recover in a 1-0 loss to the Red Bulls Wednesday night at Audi Field.

After Bradley Wright-Phillips scored his 100th career MLS regular season goal, Paul Arriola appeared to equalize later in the first half, but his goal was called back following Video Review for offside.

“We have been efficient with our chances and created plenty of looks on goal… that is the most important thing,” Ben Olsen said. “Building off the second half can be a positive, but only if we learn from the first half and learn how to get out of our comfort zone and have a tougher mentality. We were unfortunate to not at least get a point out of tonight."

Suspended: M - Paul Arriola
Suspended after next caution: M - Chris Durkin
International duty: None
Injury Report:OUT: D - Taylor Kemp (labrum surgery), D - Nick DeLeon (knee injury); PROBABLE: D - Chris Odoi-Atsem (compartment release surgery)

Projected Starting XI
(4-1-4–1, right to left)
GK: David Ousted — Oniel Fisher, Frederic Brillant, Steve Birnbaum, Joseph Mora — Chris Durkin — Zoltan Stieber, Ian Harkes, Luciano Acosta, Yamil Asad — Wayne Rooney

Colorado Rapids

Colorado (4-11-5) are getting their results in twos. After two wins, followed by two losses, the Rapids had back-to-back draws, including a 2-2 Rocky Mountain Cup stalemate last Saturday at Real Salt Lake.

After Damir Kreilach and Joao Plata staked the host to a 2-0 lead inside the first 20 minutes, Jack McBean pulled the Rapids to within a goal in the 33rd minute — which came after the match was delayed 45 minutes because of inclement weather in the 24th minute — and Dillon Serna netted the dramatic equalizer two minutes from full time.

On Tuesday, the Rapids played Boca Juniors to a 2-2 draw and won the Western Union Cup 5-4 on penalties. Yannick Boli and Enzo Martinez scored for Colorado and Kellyn Acosta made his debut after arriving in a trade that sent Dom Badji to FC Dallas.

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: M - Johan Blomberg
International duty: None
Injury Report: None

Projected Starting XI
(3-5-2, right to left)
GK: Tim Howard — Kortne Ford, Axel Sjoberg, Tommy Smith — Johan Blomberg, Jack Price, Kellyn Acosta, Danny Wilson, Edgar Castillo — Sam Nicholson, Yannick Boli

All-Time Series

Overall: D.C. United 19 wins, 68 goals … Colorado Rapids 13 wins, 52 goals … 10 draws
At D.C.: D.C. United 12 wins, 43 goals … Rapids 3 wins, 19 goals … 6 draws
Last meeting at D.C.: D.C. United 1, Colorado Rapids 1 (March 20, 2016)