Sporting KC v Colorado Rapids: Preview, Predictions, Stats and Roster Changes

Sporting KC v Colorado Rapids

When: Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 7:30 PM CT (Kickoff 7:38)

Where: Children’s Mercy Park

How to Watch/Stream: | Bally Sports KC Plus (regionally) | Bally Sports Midwest Plus (regionally) |

ESPN+ (out of market or over VPN locally)

How to Listen: Sports Radio 810 WHB | La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish)

Sporting Kansas City enter Wednesday’s home game looking to rebound from their first loss in five games. The Portland Timbers were looked at as a potential test, one that SKC played well in, but managed to find a way to lose. The Colorado Rapids head across Kansas this week in a better position than the Timbers and have to also be considered a strong test as well.

Sporting have been inconsistent against Colorado in recent meetings. They crushed them 4-0 late in the 2020 season, but lost a home game against the Rapids in late 2019 (an admittedly awful season for KC). Colorado enters Wednesday’s meeting sitting in third place, just a point behind KC but with two games in hand (no one has played more games than Kansas City in the league). Sporting need to find a way to rebound and prove they are among the elite in the West.

Colorado’s Recent Form

The Rapids come to town having won five of their last six games with their only loss coming to LAFC, who SKC play this weekend.

• May 8th vs Minnesota United - 3-2 Win
• May 15th vs Houston Dynamo - 3-1 Win
• May 22nd @ LAFC - 2-1 Loss
• May 29th vs FC Dallas - 3-0 Win
• June 19th @ FC Cincinnati - 2-0 Win

Of the six games, Colorado won on the road against Vancouver, Cincy and lost to LAFC. SKC will be a good test.

What’s changed for Colorado since 2020?

The offseason was nothing to write home about but with Robin Fraser back for his second full season in charge (he joined late in 2019), Colorado is looking to build upon recent success.

IN: The biggest addition is Michael Barrios who arrived via a trade with FC Dallas. Barrios is a winger who has troubled KC over the years. Outside of that, the team added four Homegrown players and highly touted draft pick Philip Mayaka who has yet to appear in MLS and is on loan with the Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the USL.

OUT: MLS veteran Deklan Wynne had his option declined, as did forward Niki Jackson and former Sporting player Abdul Rwatubyaye. In other words, no big losses.

Injuries*

Sporting KC

OUT - Kendall McIntosh (adductor), Remi Walter (knee)

QUESTIONABLE - Gadi Kinda (foot), Graham Zusi (hamstring)

*This already reflects the official injury report. No updates needed (hopefully).

Colorado

OUT - Younes Namli

QUESTIONABLE - Steven Beitashour

Stats

Sporting KC

GOALS: Alan Pulido (5), Daniel Salloi (4), Gadi Kinda (3), Gianluca Busio, Jaylin Lindsey (2), Ilie Sanchez (1)

ASSISTS: Khiry Shelton (3), Daniel Salloi, Johnny Russell (2), Luis Martins, Gadi Kinda, Gianluca Busio, Alan Pulido (1)

Colorado

GOALS: Diego Rubio (3), Michael Barrios, Cole Bassett (2), six with one (1)

ASSISTS: Jack Price (4), Barrios (3), five with one (1)

Starting XI Predictions

That got it’s own story, earlier in the week. Check it out!

Score Predictions

Sporting are 3-0-2 at home this year. They drew their first game (Orlando City) and their most recent (Austin FC) with a trio of wins in the middle. Colorado are a respectable 2-1-1 on the road (though those wins are against bad teams).

I’m the perpetual pessimist when it comes to Sporting (and sports in general). I finally started to feel good about them and then the international break hit and they drew a game they should have won (Austin FC) and lost a game they probably at least deserved a draw in (Portland). I think they are better than their results and their results aren’t bad.

Kansas City also lead the lead in goals scored (17), though they are greatly under-performing their expected goals (xG). Then again, their xG against isn’t fantastic when compared to their goals they’ve let in. Because pessimism has worked for me this year in this column, I’ll predict a draw while hoping for a win.

2-2 Draw

What do you think? Predictions in the comments are welcome. Let’s chat about it.

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