WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: COLORADO RAPIDS
Welcome back to What You Need To Know, a preview for Austin FC fans to check in on their next opponent.
Opponent: Colorado Rapids
Kick Off time: 8:30ish PM Central time
Location: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado
Austin FC is back in action after last weekend off to rest and recuperate from what is one of the ugliest losses Austin has suffered in its short history losing 5-1 to Real Salt Lake including being down 5 goals for the first time in club history. With morale at a nadir (hopefully) and the team banged up with injuries the break came at a good time for Austin. According to this week’s availability report, everyone is healthy and available outside of our Copa America participants Julio Cascante (Costa Rica) and Dani Pereira (Venezuela).
This match continues a tough June stretch against some of the strongest teams in the Western Conference (LAFC and Minnesota United are due up next week). For a team thin in depth and waiting another 30 days for reinforcements to arrive, they need to continue accumulating enough points to stay in the playoffs and see how they stack up against potential playoff competition.
History vs. Austin FC:
Austin FC is a nearly symmetrical 2-2-3 (W-D-L) against the Colorado Rapids with both wins coming in Commerce City, including the first win in Austin FC history back in 2021.
Recent Matches:
The Rapids are winless in their last four games, giving up an average of 3.25 goals a match, including giving up five goals to Real Salt Lake on May 18.
Players to Watch:
Rafael Navarro
The Brazilian forward came to Colorado during last season’s summer transfer window and currently leads the team with 9 goals this season. His added firepower along with newly signed Djordje Mihailovic have turned the Colorado attack into one of the best in the Western Conference.
Cole Bassett
The midfielder has benefited from the extra attacking and creative talent around him. No longer pushed forward or on the wing, he’s settled deeper into their formation which allows him to play as a box-to-box midfielder where his passing talent is linking the defense and attack and it’s working well for the Rapids.
Jackson Travis
The 20-year-old Homegrown has come into the Rapid’s first team this season after spending time with their NextPro side. He started and played 60 minutes against the Whitecaps last week. With regular Left-back Sam Vines listed as out due to illness, he’s set to get his 2nd consecutive start lining up against Jadier Obrian.
Keys to the Match:
A Fire-y Connection
Colorado coach Chris Armas has managed (briefly) at some of the largest clubs in the world, but he spent 10 years of his playing career in Chicago, including five of those sharing the field with our own Josh Wolff. They won MLS Cup and USOC in 1998 and another MLS Cup in 2000. Armas has surprisingly revitalized a Colorado Rapids team that had a lot of turmoil last season, including a Supporter Section walk out. Armas has embraced the supporters and brought life into a situation that was looking dire toward the end of last season.
This is also an excuse to post this Josh Wolff free kick goal and his celebration of pointing to his name on the back of the kit.
New Faces
After finishing second in the Wooden Spoon last season, Colorado did what teams in that position should do: signing new players. They brought in Djordje Mihailovic from AZ Alkamaar of the Dutch league, Zach Steffen from Middlesbrough of the Championship, and Sam Vines of Antwerp from the Belgian league. This focus on bringing in fringe or past USNT players brings good value to the roster and has helped lift them in playoff position in a stacked Western Conference.
A Summer of Soccer
The European Championship has begun and Copa America beginning next week we are being spoiled in terms of competitions. Unfortunately for Austin FC that means the loss of Julio Cascante (Costa Rica) and Dani Perreira (Venezuela) for the near future. While Austin has shown solid depth at defense with Brandon Hines-Ike and Leo Vasisanen, the midfield is a different story. Without Perreira Austin FC will start a more defensive midfield and their ability to play through the middle will be hindered. If any injuries happen to Johan Valencia or Alex Ring Austin will be forced to put Owen Wolff in the middle of the park, and after that, they’d likely have to turn to a short-term loan from Austin FC II.
Last Minute News:
Austin FC has announced the signing of Austin FC II captain, Alonso Ramirez, to a short-term loan agreement for the match against the Colorado Rapids. As stated above in the Keys To The Match, Coach Wolff has a situation on his hands with Dani Pereira out on International Duty with Venezuela. Coach Wolff has to start Jhojan Valencia who is usually his choice off the bench to replace Pereira or Ring. The short-term loan agreements allow for the first team to call upon a player younger than 25 years old from the second team only four times, which means that with this being Alonso’s first loan call-up, he could be part of the first team for the matches coming up against LAFC, Minnesota, SKC, and maybe NYCFC due to the current situation Austin FC is dealing with.
Now before you say “Yeah but he won’t play anyways” Remember if Valencia receives a yellow tonight he will miss the match at home against LAFC, opening up the door for Alonso Ramirez to see some first-team action.
WRITTEN BY: SCOTT SPECHT
