Chris Armas says his Colorado Rapids gamers should get pleasure from their meteoric stand up the MLS standings, and he’s assured they won’t get carried away forward of their journey to FC Cincinnati.
Colorado sit fourth within the Western Convention with 15 factors from 9 video games, profitable three of their final 4 after an inconsistent begin to the 12 months.
They benefitted from two personal objectives as they beat FC Dallas 2-1 final day out, and Armas has no challenge together with his gamers having fun with their place within the standings, notably given they completed all-time low of the West in 2023.
“I see the boys wanting on the TV the place now we have the standings posted, they usually see that we’re climbing, so it’s all good things,” Armas stated.
“From day one the message that I preached is that every little thing we do might be based mostly on laborious work and that we are going to by no means get too low on ourselves.
“We don’t get too excessive, the boys are lifelike. That half’s not that onerous and our group is hungry and trying to enhance day by day.”
We go there and play our recreation #Rapids96 | @Ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/hBgMXe8xCb
— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) April 25, 2024
Supporters’ Protect holders Cincinnati have had an up-and-down begin, going unbeaten by their first 5 video games of the 12 months earlier than struggling back-to-back defeats towards the New York Purple Bulls and CF Montreal (each 1-2).
Nonetheless, Pat Noonan’s males bounced again with a press release 2-1 victory over Atlanta United final week, and defender Matt Miazga hopes that consequence might be a turning level.
“I take a look at all people and I’m like, ‘Alright, I see in his face, I see in his face. We wish it,’” Miazga stated.
“All of us realised we’re a high staff, with massive personalities, massive characters, and it’s time to indicate up in massive moments.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
FC Cincinnati – Luciano Acosta
Acosta assisted Cincinnati’s equaliser towards Atlanta final Saturday earlier than scoring the winner two minutes later.
That was Acosta’s thirteenth regular-season match with a aim and an help for the reason that begin of the 2022 season, three greater than some other participant in MLS has managed throughout that point.
DeAndre → Lucho → pic.twitter.com/NxnffoK3Vr
— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) April 22, 2024
Colorado Rapids – Djordje Mihailovic
Mihailovic has created no less than twice as many probabilities as some other Colorado participant in MLS this time period (16), with Keegan Rosenberry and Sam Vines creating eight apiece.
He additionally has two objectives and one help to his identify, whereas solely Rafael Navarro (16) has bettered his 10 profitable dribbles amongst his team-mates.
MATCH PREDICTION – FC CINCINNATI WIN
Cincinnati earned their first win over the Rapids final Might, triumphing 1-0 on the highway. The Rapids had gained the primary two conferences between the edges, together with a 2-0 victory on their solely earlier journey to Cincinnati.
The Rapids additionally enter Saturday’s recreation having gained successive regular-season matches for the primary time since September 2022, eyeing their first three-game profitable streak since August 2021.
Nonetheless, Cincinnati ended their poor run by beating Atlanta final day out and have, regardless of some underwhelming performances, solely misplaced two of their 9 league video games this time period (4 wins, three attracts). On residence soil, the Supporters’ Protect holders are favourites.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
FC Cincinnati – 49.3%
Colorado Rapids – 23.3%
Draw – 27.4%
