Colorado Rapids vs. Minnesota United FC Prediction, Preview and Odds - 7/7/21
The Colorado Rapids take on Minnesota United on Wednesday night from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado. The two teams have already met in Colorado once this season, with the Rapids taking the May 8th meeting by a score of 3-2. Minnesota scored twice in the first 25 minutes to take a commanding lead, but couldn’t hold off a second half fury by Colorado, including two goals in the last twenty minutes to take the win. Minnesota will have nightmares of that finish and the collapse that preceded it, while Colorado will be riding a wave of momentum as they try to make it two in a row overall against Minnesota after failing to find a win in any of the three meetings last season. Colorado only sits two points ahead of Minnesota in the standings, so Wednesday’s game could go a long way to dictating how the Western Conference looks on Thursday morning.
Colorado Looks To Close Gap
Colorado is having one of their best starts in recent years and sits in fourth place in the Western Conference heading into Wednesday’s game. With a plus-four goal differential and 17 points across ten games, Colorado would love a win to move within a point of the LA Galaxy in third place. One advantage for Colorado is having just played at home over the weekend, in a draw with Seattle, which allows for no travel and a more relaxed training cycle leading into Wednesday night. Since the international break, Colorado has gone 1-1-1 and a win against Minnesota, which would be their second straight on the season against them, would do wonders for their confidence before the All-Star break.
Tweet: https://twitter.com/ColoradoRapids/status/1412520762926379020
The Rapids will definitely be without Younes Namli, and Steven Beitashour is likely to miss Wednesday’s game as well, which won’t do more than simply test the depth of the Rapids, if anything. Kellen Acosta, Cole Bassett, and Danny Wilson, all found the scorer sheet in the first meeting with United, but Acosta and Wilson only have those goals to show for themselves. Diego Rubio leads the way with three goals, along with Michael Barrios, while Bassett and Keegan Rosenbury are tied with two goals each. The Rapids have seen nine players total tally goals this season, one of the best numbers in the league and a major reason why they’ve stayed so competitive.
William Yarbrough has been holding down the backline, starting all ten matches at goalkeeper. With four clean sheets, but 12 goals allowed, he still is working towards becoming a more consistent force and voice in the back for the Rapids. The Rapids back four loves to get high and involved in the flow of the game, as well as in set pieces, with three of the four expected starters having scored at least a goal this season, with two also adding assists. If Colorado can use their athleticism on the outside to keep their foot on the gas, it could have the makings of another difficult game for Minnesota.
United Looks To Redeem Selves
Minnesota was shocked to have lost the first match of the season against Colorado, and now with the rematch looming, it’s a question of will they come out strong or come out demoralized from how their last 45 minutes against the Rapids went. Minnesota has eight points in their last four games, failing to lose since the return from the break, which has helped catapult them into fifth place in the Wstern Conference standings. Even with a minus-two goal differential, 15 points on 11 games has been enough so far to allow them to stay in the fight for home field come the playoffs, but they can’t let another game against Colorado slip through their grasp.Heading on the road won’t be easy either, but Minnesota at least was at home over the weekend, easing the travel slightly heading into Wednesday night.
Tweet: https://twitter.com/MNUFC/status/1412474302474199044
Minnesota could be without Robin Lod, who is dealing with a VISA issue, and Romain Metanire will definitely be out with a similar issue as well, as both return from internal duty. Lod, who is tied for the team-lead with two goals in only six games played, will be a massive miss if he’s unable to go. Add in that Metanire has played in ten games this season, and there’s two experienced faces who might not be in the lineup on Wednesday night. The first meeting with Colorado saw Emanuel Reyoso and the newly engaged Hassani Dotson bag a goal, though neither has scored. Without Lod, it’ll take a complete effort from Minnesota to find a win, but if they can stay sharp, a draw is definitely within reach, and they’ll surely be happy to take that.
In the back, Tyler Miller has found success being able to hold things down, but the defense as a whole continues to be a work in progress. Chase Gaspar has been solid, but beside him has been too much movement and the lack of consistency and repetitions playing against the same defenders seem to be hurting Minnesota. If Ike Opara can insert himself back into the starting lineup, that’s at least one player that can make difference, but they’ll still struggle with the relentless attacking pressure they’ll surely see against Colorado.
Pick: Colorado (-110)
Colorado has one of the most potent attacks in the league, as they showed in the last meeting with Minnesota, scoring three goals in the second half. Their ability to get their outside backs high will be tough for Minnesota to deal with given their inexperience in the back playing together, and the overlapping runs will eventually lead to some easy scoring opportunities for Colorado. Add in that Minnesota will be without their top scoring threat in all likelihood, as well as another mainstay in the lineup, and it’s not a great matchup for Minnesota, especially given they’re going on the road too. Expect Minnesota to struggle more than the first meeting and Colorado to find more success, which will mean a home win for the Rapids and another three points on the docket.
Total: Over
Colorado has allowed goals in back-to-back games, while Minnesota continues to juggle a struggling defense. In the first meeting, the two teams combined for five goals and more could have been in store if there was some better finishing. These two teams' clashing styles typically lead to goals and Wednesday’s game shouldn’t be any different. In the last four meetings between the two teams, four goals have been scored twice, while three goals have been scored the other two times. With very little changing within each side, expect an up and down game in the rematch and the chances to come in a hurry.
