Minnesota United FC vs. Colorado Rapids | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Minnesota United FC vs. Colorado Rapids
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 33
TCF Bank Stadium — Minneapolis
October 13 - 2 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

A pair of Western Conference foes looking to bounce back from lopsided defeats and end the 2018 season on a positive note meet at TCF Bank Stadium Saturday afternoon when Minnesota United FC host the Colorado Rapids.

The Loons, ninth in the Western Conference with 36 points, are coming off a 5-1 loss at the Philadelphia Union, while the Rapids, 11th with 24 points, fell at home to LAFC, 3-0, their seventh straight defeat.

This is the second meeting this season, with the Rapids winning 3-2 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on June 23. Edgar Castillo canceled out Miguel Ibarra’s first-half goal before Christian Ramirez gave Minnesota a 2-1 lead in the 65th minute. Joe Mason leveled nine minutes later and Tommy Smith scored the winner in the seventh minute of stoppage time.

Minnesota United

Minnesota (11-17-3) couldn’t build off impressive wins over the Portland Timbers and NYCFC, losing to the Union, 5-1, at Talen Energy Stadium, a defeat that eliminated them from postseason contention.

The hosts raced in front 3-0 inside of the opening 25 minutes on goals by Cory Burke, Alejandro Bedoya and Fafa Picault, who added his second before halftime to extend the lead to 4-0. Darwin Quintero breathed a bit of life into the Loons in the 54th minute, but Ilsinho put the finishing touches on a decisive win in the 79th minute.

“It’s pretty hard for me to try and explain how bad we were in the first half in probably all aspects of the game,” Adrian Heath said. “It was like men against boys at times. Second half, we got a little bit of a response out of the group and showed a little bit more of what we like. But as I said, too little, too late, not good enough.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: M - Miguel Ibarra
International duty: D - Francisco Calvo
Injury Report: OUT: M - Sam Cronin (cervicogenic dysfunction), M - Kevin Molino (torn left ACL), M - Ethan Finlay (torn ACL), M - Collin Martin (right ankle injury), GK - Bobby Shuttleworth (back); QUESTIONABLE: F - Romario Ibarra (hamstring injury), F - Abu Danladi (right leg injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Matthew Lampson — Jerome Thiesson, Michael Boxall, Brent Kallman, Marc Burch — Fernando Bob, Maximiano — Miguel Ibarra, Darwin Quintero, Rasmus Schuller — Angelo Rodriguez

Colorado Rapids

The struggles for Colorado (6-19-6) continued on Saturday with a 3-0 loss to LAFC, which became the fifth expansion team to clinch a playoff berth Saturday in Commerce City.

Walker Zimmerman put the visitors in front on 15 minutes off a corner kick and Adama Diomande added a brace, scoring three minutes before and three minutes after halftime. The Rapids have been outscored 22-1 in their seven-game losing streak.

“I’m sure people are fed up with me saying this, but there’s obviously no excuses coming from our side, we’re very disappointed, we are absolutely gutted with the results,” Anthony Hudson said. “But one thing I can’t fault, and it was the same on Saturday, is the lads never ever give up. They are giving everything.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: M - Johan Blomberg, F - Jack McBean, F - Niki Jackson
International duty: M - Kellyn Acosta
Injury Report: OUT: F - Jack McBean (foot/toe), M - Sam Nicholson (back), D - Danny Wilson (back); QUESTIONABLE: D - Kortne Ford (knee); PROBABLE: M - Jack Price (groin)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-1-2, right to left)
GK: Tim Howard — Marlon Hairston, Axel Sjoberg, Tommy Smith, Edgar Castillo — Johan Blomberg, Jack Price, Bismark Boateng — Dillon Serna — Shkelzen Gashi, Giles Barnes

All-Time Series

Overall: Minnesota United 1 win, 5 goals … Colorado Rapids 1 win, 5 goals … 1 draw
At Minnesota: Minnesota Union 1 win, 1 goal … Rapids 0 wins, 0 goals … 0 draws
Last meeting at Minnesota: Minnesota United 1, Colorado Rapids 0 (April 23, 2017)