Know Your Foe: Colorado Rapids-FC Dallas preview

There are several reasons why this Saturday’s game against FC Dallas is the Colorado Rapids biggest of an already monumental season for the men in burgundy. The Supporters’ Shield uead is on the line with the two point leaders in the MLS facing off for their first of three encounters this season. Dallas leads the standings with 40 points as of today, but the Rapids are second at 37 points with three games in hand and the highest average points per game at 1.94.

As if that wasn’t enough, the two teams are heading into a heated match for other reasons as well. Just one month ago, the two faced off in the U.S. Open, going to overtime and in the process, and seeing Dillon Serna injured by a brutal and unnecessary tackle. This game doesn’t just have huge implications in the standings but also in settling the score for the Serna injury and U.S. Open elimination.

Additionally, the Rapids are facing their former coach.  The very same one who left a promising young team in 2013 to build an even more promising young team down in Texas. This game isn’t just the big game of the week in MLS, but it is the first fork in the road for what has been a magical season thus far for Rapids fans, one that begins in full now.

The match-ups on the field are a plenty, with the MLS’ highest goal scoring unit in Dallas facing the league’s best defense in the Rapids. After a crazy week in which Dallas first lost Wednesday 5-0 to Seattle, Pareja’s men looked back in full shape by Saturday. With Mauro Díaz and Fabian Castillo caused all sorts of dangers for Chicago in a 3-1 win.

Key match-ups

Defense

Rapids defensive midfielders vs. Mauro Díaz

FC Dallas has several dangerous offensive weapons at their disposal, but the team’s most valuable player is Mauro Díaz.  A dark horse candidate for league MVP, Díaz is the man who pulls the strings in midfield. The diminutive Argentine is not necessarily the most explosive, but he’s a master in constructing goals with pinpoint passes in the final third. Stop Díaz, or at least substantially limit him, and all of a sudden the chances of a Rapids win become much, much greater.

Enter Sam Cronin and Micheal Azira, two of the MLS’ best defensive mids. Cronin has the aggressiveness, relentlessness and expertise (plus some veteran savvy) to limit the talented Argentinian playmaker. Azira has the legs and stamina to help out against Díaz and box him in with Cronin, allowing the Rapids No. 6 to push forward and distribute in midfield as well. While Colorado-Dallas will be analyzed as the league’s best defense against the best offense, a big part of that matchup will lie in the midfield with Cronin and Azira against Díaz.

Rapids Full-backs vs. Fabian Castillo (and Michael Barrios)

There have been rumblings about how Castillo hasn’t been at the special level that he was last season, but he enters this Saturday’s game having just played his best game of the year. Watch Castillo’s insane rabona assist from last weekend, and you’d be hard-pressed to see any deterioration in his play from last year.

All this is to say, Castillo is extremely dangerous, and coming into this matchup in top form. He can create goal scoring opportunities with his speed and one-on-one skills. This is an important job for the Rapids full-backs (yes, both of them) because Castillo freelances and has done damage on all sides of the pitch this past week. Mekeil Williams will have to use his physicality and pace to stick with Castillo. If the Dallas winger shifts to the right flank, Marc Burch will have to be tactically savvy in knowing when to push up and when to hold back.

Dallas’ other winger Michael Barrios is extremely dangerous as well and has six goals and one assist in 19 starts thus far this season. Cover from the back will be essential, especially on the wings. Dallas’ speed and creativity can hurt if the full-backs don’t stay disciplined. Another risk is leaving their two big lumbering center backs exposed in space.

Rapids central defenders will have to keep a close eye on striker Maximiliano Urruti, not necessarily a marquee name, but a striker who’s crafty in finding his spots, facing goal, and putting the ball into the back of the net. Axel Sjoberg and whoever is beside him, almost always have an aerial advantage, but strikers such as Urruti can be the most dangerous because of their craftiness and ability to slip into space as the defenses focuses on Díaz and the wings.

Offense

Marco Pappa & Shkelzen Gashi vs. Dallas’ overly-offensive full-backs

Dallas is a great offensive unit, but their full-backs are much better in giving extra offensive push than they are in cover. Atiba Harris is great, but he’s far from a perfect defender. The interesting thing about the Rapids wingers is that both Pappa and Gashi love to move into the middle from the wing creating more space for teammates on the flank.

Maynor Figueroa could be vulnerable as he likes to push up and will be coming back from his one-game suspension for a red card against the Sounders. Ryan Hollingshead is a natural midfielder and isn’t exactly known for his defense as a full-back. Regardless of who is on the field for FC Dallas, this on paper, appears to be the most advantageous matchup for Colorado.

Of course, head coach Pablo Mastroeni could opt for starting last week’s hero in Marlon Hairston instead of Pappa. In counter-attacking situations, Hairston’s speed could wreck havoc and flip the field on Dallas. Hairston also gives Mastroeni a player who can run up and down the flank and give more defensive balance than Pappa. Regardless of if he starts or not, the young Hairston could be an important weapon for the Rapids in this game.

Set pieces

Colorado is one of the strongest dead ball teams in the MLS both defensively and offensively. The threat of Sjoberg, Jared Watts, Kevin Doyle with the service of Pappa or Gashi’s velveted left touches make the Rapids a constant threat on free-kicks and corners.

Dallas has a very competent set of center backs in Walker Zimmerman and Matt Hedges.  This will be a great matchup and one that could yield the win to either team with the others’ slightest mistake.

We’ll see if the Rapids are able to extend their fourteen-game winning streak and can jump at the top of the Supporters’ Shield race (7 PM, Altitude TV).