It will be an important day in the MLS on Saturday night as two teams in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race square off in what promises to be a tense affair.
Just three points separate the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas in the team standings and both teams will be eager to get that valuable victory to stay in striking distance of the leaders and create some separation from the chasing pack. Read on for our analysis of this key Western faceoff and also catch our preview of the equally-important showdown between the LA Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes here.
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Colorado Rapids vs. FC Dallas, Major League Soccer, Betting Preview and Prediction
Where: Toyota Stadium, Dallas, Texas
When: Saturday, August 9, 9:00 PM ET
Line: Colorado Rapids (+270) at FC Dallas (-120), tie (+240); total – 2.5 – see all MLS lines
Betting on the Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids have lost their last two games as they sit precariously close to losing their grip on the fifth and final playoff spot in the West. At 30 points, they are now just a point ahead of the sixth-ranked Vancouver Whitecaps and three points up on the Portland Timbers.
[sc:Soccer240banner ]The potent Rapids attack that has scored 31 goals this season was shut out in the past two games as they failed to breach the defenses of Real Salt Lake and the New England Revolution.
In their last game against Real Salt Lake, they failed to utilize their one-man advantage as they were frustrated by the outstanding goalkeeping of Nick Rimando who tied an MLS record for the most number of shutouts at 112 by virtue of his clean sheet against the Rapids.
Forwards Deshorn Brown and Vicente Sanchez who lead the Rapids in scoring with seven and six goals, respectively, have struggled recently, though, and will need to improve on their goal-scoring form if they are to get a result in Dallas.
The Rapids have struggled on the road recently though, scoring just a point out of a possible 15 in their last five away games. They have lost to New England, Portland, Real Salt Lake and the team they will face next FC Dallas.
FC Dallas are coming off a tight 1-0 victory on the road against Chivas USA Sunday as they created some separation with the Rapids and in the process tied the LA Galaxy at 33 points for third place in the Western Conference standings.
Fabian Castillo made an instant impact upon his return from a four-game suspension, setting up Tesho Akindele’s game-winner four minutes after the break as he helped FC Dallas stretch its unbeaten run to seven games. Dallas have scored 15 out of a possible 21 during that run as they surged to the top of the West, just five points behind the leaders Seattle.
Castillo, who was suspended for making contact with a match official, has scored five goals for his club this season and has contributed to the dynamic Dallas attack that is second-best in the Western Conference this season in terms of scoring with 35 goals.
Although scoring has been a key ingredient to FC Dallas’ recent success, the main difference in their past games has been their vast improvement on the defensive end. They may have the third-worst defense in the Western Conference with 31 goals allowed this season but their recent form has told a different story as they’ve allowed just three goals in their last five games including three clean sheets.
This defensive quality will be needed against Colorado whom they have already beaten 3-2 in their first meeting last June 7.
In that game, Castillo was the hero, as he scored a 62nd-minute winner to give FC Dallas the vital victory. That win was their first since April 19 and helped start their current seven-game unbeaten run.
FC Dallas have also won their last three home games.
Writer’s Prediction
FC Dallas, with the home crowd behind them, will stretch their unbeaten run to eight as they will easily dispatch a struggling Colorado side.
