http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/DC-United-c38901 vs. Colorado Rapids - Major League Soccer week 9 preview
Washington-based Major League Soccer franchise, DC United, host MLS Cup champions, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Colorado-Rapids-c38849, at RFK Stadium on Saturday, May 14.
The three-time MLS Cup champions are having a rollercoaster ride of a season so far. The team resides at fifth position, which might look disappointing to some experts, but it still remains a big improvement from the bottom place the club found itself in
a few weeks earlier.
The Rapids, on the other hand, would be coming on the back of a draw against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/New-England-Revolution-c40026 at Gillette Stadium. Although the champions have secured a position in top order of the Western Conference, their performances have not been consistent. Defending
the title this year, the team has registered only 14 points, three short of table toppers, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Los-Angeles-Galaxy-c39818.
DC United
The capital city-based team started the campaign with a win at home, however, the next two weeks did not go as planned and Ben Olsen’s DCU have been in the bottom half of Eastern Conference. The team houses some of the best players available in the league
with the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Charlie-Davies-c8841, who has been brilliant on his own since the start of the season. Davies sits atop the scorer’s list. But his efforts have not been backed by his teammates.
The team has conceded a whopping 17 goals, by far the worst performance by any defence in the first three months of MLS. The last five matches have brought mixed fortunes; DCU have won two, drawn twice and lost the remaining game.
This does not, from any angle, show the seriousness in the roster and Olsen has to take drastic measures to avoid a repeat of last year’s results, where the team finished rock bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Colorado Rapids
Gary Smith’s team is getting on its feet after a disappointing first two months. After two consecutive losses, the team has improved the results by drawing two of their last three games and winning the game against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Houston-Dynamo-c39542 on the road.
Despite being number three in the Western Conference, the reigning champions have scored goals rather miserly. The defence, with the likes of Scott Palguta, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Tyrone-Marshall-c35649, Kosuke Kimura and Anthony Wallace, is the strong point of the Rapids.
The team had to go through a hectic two-week period but the bench would be relatively fresh for the DCU fixture.
The Rapids are known for their unpredictability on away turfs – the last game against Die Oranje being evidence of that – and Smith will be eyeing the top slot in the Eastern Conference when he travels to Washington.
Following are the respective probable line-ups for Olsen and Smith.
DC United
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Josh-Wolff-c19540
Colorado Rapids
Steve Cronin, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Andre-Akpan-c5614
Prediction
The Rapids are strong contestants and odds would favour them going into this game. A 2-1 victory would give Smith three precious points.
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