Sporting Kansas City are looking to increase their winning streak on the road to four games when they travel to Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City to face the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.
The Wizards moved into first in the Western Conference with a convincing 4-1 win over Los Angeles FC, while the Rapids are in fourth after beating Austin 1-0 last week.
Match preview
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All season long, Robin Fraser has seen his side respond well following a defeat, and that was the case once again last Saturday, beating Austin comfortably after putting on one of their worst performances of the season in their previous match, resulting in a 3-0 loss to Real Salt Lake.
Since losing 3-1 to the Verde-and-Black in April, they are unbeaten in their last seven fixtures at home, scoring 15 goals in that span and maintaining three clean sheets.
In an unpredictable season, maintaining balance has been critical to their success, and they have been able to do that effectively through their first 15 games this year.
The Rapids have never lost successive fixtures all season, and they have only been shut out of two games this year, so it should come as no surprise that they are one of the contenders to win the title this season.
11 different players have already found the back of the net for the Rapids in 2021, and they have maintained their standing despite missing a number of key players who were away on international duty for the Gold Cup.
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Kansas City made the most of their second chance to move into first in the conference as they dominated LA, scoring three goals in the opening half, handing the Black-and-Gold only their second defeat at home this year.
Despite Los Angeles firing 21 shots, the KC defence held firm, allowing only one shot on target while scoring on four of their five shots on goal.
That victory was the 200th for manager Peter Vermes in all competitions with this team, and he knows that they need to keep winning if they are to remain in first, as the Sounders are only behind them on goal difference, while the Los Angeles Galaxy are just two points back in third.
After such a clinical performance earlier this week, one has to think KC could be the team to beat in the west moving forward, and it is hard to argue given what they have done throughout the year.
Kansas City are the highest-scoring team in MLS, with 33 goals, the same as the New England Revolution, they have several offensive weapons while also boasting a rock-solid defence.
They attack with tremendous speed all over the pitch and have the poise and patience to wait for an opening, and when it comes, they know how to finish off their chances.
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Team News
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The Rapids could be missing Younes Namli again with an unknown injury, while Dominique Badji hopes to make his first appearance for the Burgundy Boys since being traded back to Colorado late last month.
William Yarbrough earned his seventh clean sheet of the season last week, saving the two Austin shots that he faced, while Kellyn Acosta, Jonathan Lewis and Sam Vines are all available again following their Gold Cup triumph with the US national team.
Peter Vermes made two changes to the starting 11 on Wednesday from the team that started in their defeat to Dallas, as llie replaced Roger Espinoza in central midfield and Alan Pulido returned to the starting 11 after his Gold Cup appearance for Mexico, replacing Johnny Russell.
Luis Martins notched his first goal of the season earlier this week, while Daniel Salloi hit the double-digit mark for goals this year with his 10th of this campaign, putting him one behind the league leader Raul Ruidiaz of the Seattle Sounders.
Gianluca Busio is moving to Italian side Venezia for a record fee following an impressive performance at the Gold Cup for the United States as he joins Dallas midfielder Tanner Tessmann, another fellow American, who joined the Serie A team last month.
Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:
Yarbrough; Vines, Trusty, Moor, Rosenberry; Acosta, Warner, Beitashour; Bassett; Lewis, Barrios
Sporting Kansas City possible starting lineup:
Melia; Martins, Fontas, Lindsey, Zusi; Kinda, Espinoza, Walter; Salloi, Pulido, Russell
We say: Colorado Rapids 1-2 Sporting Kansas City
The Rapids have quickly become a contending team under the leadership of Robin Fraser, but they have struggled to earn results against the elite teams, having lost to KC earlier this year while blowing an opportunity against Seattle as well in a 1-1 draw.
Kansas City are the top team in the west, and they have been clinical in the final third away from home, scoring nine goals in their last three games.
Top tip
Data Analysis
Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Colorado Rapids win with a probability of 38.55%. A win for Sporting Kansas City had a probability of 35.49% and a draw had a probability of 26%.
The most likely scoreline for a Colorado Rapids win was 1-0 with a probability of 9.47%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (8.44%) and 2-0 (6.48%). The likeliest Sporting Kansas City win was 0-1 (9.01%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (12.33%). The actual scoreline of 0-0 was predicted with a 6.9% likelihood.
