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FC Dallas
Major League Soccer
Oct 15, 2023 at 1.30am UK
Toyota Stadium
Colorado Rapids

Dallas
1 - 1
Colorado

Velasco (37')
Pomykal (42')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Navarro (25')
Priso-Mbongue (2'), Lewis (54')

Preview: Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Major League Soccer clash between Dallas and Colorado Rapids, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Dallas can secure their spot in the MLS Cup playoffs for a second successive campaign with a victory on Saturday at Toyota Stadium versus the Colorado Rapids.

Last weekend, the Toros overcame an early deficit, managing to claim a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes, putting them a point above Sporting Kansas City for the final playoff spot in the West, while Colorado saw a two-match domestic unbeaten run end, losing 5-1 against the Houston Dynamo.


Match preview

FC Dallas celebrate a goal on August 3, 2023© Reuters

It has been anything but a smooth ride for Nico Estevez and his Dallas side of late, winning only two of their last 12 league contests, but the job of making the post-season is nearly done.

With two matches remaining against the bottom two sides in the Western Conference (Colorado and the Los Angeles Galaxy), the Toros could not have asked for a better scenario regarding their post-season hopes, as they only need to win one of their final two games or have SKC lose their match on Decision Day to get into the playoffs.

They may very well be a playoff team by the end of matchday 34, but Dallas will have only just stumbled over that line, with 12 victories being the most they can claim by the end of the campaign, which would still be two fewer than their mark from a year ago.

It has not been pretty, but one thing this team have had in abundance in recent matches is resilience, coming back to earn at least a point in four of their previous five domestic encounters, with that other result being a 0-0 draw versus the Houston Dynamo.

The Toros have failed to emerge victorious in five MLS affairs this year when drawing first blood, resulting in a loss of 11 points, including a defeat to the Rapids the previous time those sides met in July (2-1).

One thing that has remained consistent throughout the tenure of Estevez as coach is the Toros' stringy play at the back, giving up the second-fewest goals in the Western Conference (35), two fewer than they allowed after 34 matches a year ago.

Colorado Rapids forward Calvin Harris (14) celebrates after his goal on September 17, 2023© Reuters

Another Rapids season will end in disappointment as this team continue to take giant steps backwards, already assured of finishing dead last in the Western Conference this year.

The Burgundy Boys need a win from one of their final two encounters to avoid setting a new club record for the fewest points ever in a single regular season (28 in 2020), while a pair of defeats would mean they equal their lowest total for wins in a single regular season (five in 2001).

Before last weekend, interim manager Chris Little had been making a decent case to be named the full-time boss next year, with his side earning at least a point in three of his first five matches at the helm, though losing by four goals to Houston and registering just one shot on target might not help that case.

Perhaps the biggest positive for this group under Little has been the consistency they have shown in front of goal, with the Rapids scoring in every one of his matches in charge (six) after failing to net in 15 domestic games this year under Robin Fraser.

Not only have the Rapids lost more MLS road contests than anyone in the Western Conference this year (11), but the manner of some of those defeats has to sting even more, losing four times at least three goals.

Colorado have won consecutive matches against the Toros in MLS but have not claimed three points against them at Toyota Stadium since 2016 (1-0).

Dallas Major League Soccer form:

Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer form:


Team News

 FC Dallas head coach Nico Estevez reacts on September 17, 2023© Reuters

Sebastian Lletget is unlikely to see the field for Dallas this weekend due to a hamstring strain, Tarik Scott has missed the entire season after undergoing LCL and ACL surgery, Geovane Jesus has an injured right knee, while Bernard Kamungo was named to the USA Under-23 squad for their friendlies in Phoenix.

Jader Obrian has scored in three successive home contests for the Toros, two of which were assisted by Dallas' leading goalscorer Jesus Ferreira, including his equaliser versus the Quakes last weekend.

Ferreira had a brace the last time they hosted the Rapids in this competition, with former midfielder Brandon Servania adding a goal and an assist in a 3-1 triumph.

The Burgundy Boys are likely to be without at least a handful of players for this encounter as William Yarbrough (knee surgery), Sidnei Tavares (illness), Jack Price (Achilles), Aboubacar Keita (lower body) and Alex Gersbach (adductor tendon surgery) all missed the match against the Dynamo through injury.

Diego Rubio is unavailable after being added to the Chile squad for the international window, Moise Bombito was named to the Canadian team, while Max was removed from team activities a while back because of alleged illegal gambling.

Cole Bassett notched his team-leading sixth goal of the season in their lopsided defeat versus Houston, Connor Ronan collected his 11th assist of the year, the most among Rapid players in 2023 and one shy of the mark Jack Price set in 2021, while Keegan Rosenberry recorded his 138th start last week, moving past Marvell Wynne for the fifth-most in club history.

Dallas possible starting lineup:
Paes; Twumasi, Ibeagha, Tafari, Farfan; Arriola, Pomykal, Illarramendi, Quignon; Obrian, Ferreira

Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:
Ilic; Rosenberry, Wilson, Maxso, Gutman; Ronan, Bassett; Galvan, Priso, Harris; Lewis


SM words green background

We say: Dallas 1-0 Colorado Rapids

A backline as well-organised as the Toros should not have difficulty containing a Rapids attack who have not created much during the run of play but have given up plenty of opportunities away from home in the attacking third.

How to watch

You can watch Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Dallas vs Colorado

Dallas
77.3%
Draw
13.6%
Colorado Rapids
9.1%
22
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1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
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3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
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5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
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15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721


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