Win and you could be in.
For the first time since 2021, the Colorado Rapids are playing with a chance to clinch a playoff berth. With a win on the road against rival Sporting Kansas City, the Rapids could become the fifth team to secure a spot in the MLS Playoffs, joining Inter Miami, FC Cincinnati, Columbus Crew and L.A. Galaxy.
What needs to happen Wednesday night for the Rapids to claim a spot in the postseason
• Colorado wins at SKC AND
• FC Dallas loses or draws at Real Salt Lake AND
• Austin FC loses or draws at LAFC
On the other side of the fixture, SKC, currently on the outside looking through a rapidly-closing door in 12th place in the Western Conference, could be eliminated from playoff contention with elaborate scenarios.
What would need to happen for SKC to drop out of the race
• SKC loses vs. Colorado AND
• Portland wins or draws vs. LA AND
• Minnesota United wins vs. Cincinnati
Or:
• SKC draws vs. Colorado AND
• Portland wins vs. LA AND
• Minnesota wins vs Cincinnati
For Rapids coach Chris Armas, Wednesday’s game, which kicks off at Children’s Mercy Park at 6:30 p.m., is not as much about clinching a playoff berth as it is continuing to do the right things and weathering the test that his team’s I-70 rivals provide.
“We know they’re a very good team with a lot to play for and they’re always good at home,” Armas said. “I’ve known (SKC coach) Peter Vermes for a very long time and his teams are always prepared, they always fight, they always have good ideas and they can always put you in tough games in their building. We’re excited for that challenge and we want to really keep that momentum going that we’ve built in August, into September and into the playoff stretch.”
Earlier this season at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on July 4, a 2-1 win over SKC required midfielder Oliver Larraz’s first career MLS goal and a 90+4th minute penalty from midfielder Djordje Mihailovic to steal three points in come-from-behind fashion.
Though the Rapids would prefer to win more comfortably, there still needs to be a bit of improvement in the back line to keep from conceding, particularly on set pieces, according to defender Andreas Maxsø.
Against Portland last Saturday, the Rapids were caught sleeping on a corner kick in the 24th minute, and a flicked-on header found a wide-open David Ayala at the back post for a tap-in header to tie the game.
“(The Portland game) was a good performance. Especially the second half, it was good,” Maxsø said. “But we need to improve on small details. We cannot concede a set piece. That’s not good enough.”
But that task might be a bit harder with another knock to the defensive unit. Two additions were made to the Rapids’ availability report ahead of Wednesday’s game: defender and set piece target Lalas Abubakar (concussion protocol) and forward Darren Yapi (red card suspension).
With Abubakar out for at least the SKC game and defender Sam Vines still nursing a hamstring injury, the back line keeps thinning. However, it opens the door for rookie defender Jackson Travis, who Maxsø and Armas both thought played well in 90 minutes against Portland, to get some more minutes under his belt.
Travis will likely start again against SKC. Perhaps more notably, new signee defender Reggie Cannon will likely get his first bit of action as well. He’s been vocal about the adverse effects of the altitude since arriving in Colorado, but it’s much more manageable in Missouri. At training Tuesday, Armas said the club is “fast-tracking a mini preseason” for the 26-year-old and that the team will “try to get him involved” on Wednesday.
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.
Originally Published: