Chris Armas has hailed the Colorado Rapids’ professionalism as they shut in on a playoff spot, forward of Wednesday’s journey to Sporting Kansas Metropolis.
The Rapids sit third within the Western Convention amid a effective first marketing campaign beneath Armas, they usually boast a powerful seven-point cushion to these exterior the automated playoff locations.
Objectives from Jonathan Lewis and Rafael Navarro handed them a 2-1 win over the in-form Portland Timbers final outing, however Armas says there is no such thing as a likelihood of his males dropping focus after that end result.
“It was a giant step for our crew,” Armas mentioned. “The temper within the locker room is one the place it’s like, ‘it’s simply one other day within the workplace’.
“There’s no large celebration however they perceive that was a giant step for us, to get three factors in a decisive recreation, to place some separation there.
“We have now our eye on the prize, which is the playoffs. The temper is sweet, we’ve discovered, we’ve grown and when the whistle blows, it’s simply three factors nearer.”
Kansas Metropolis, in the meantime, look destined to overlook out on the playoffs, sitting twelfth and needing to make up an 11-point hole to the wild-card spots in simply 5 video games.
They had been overwhelmed 2-0 by the Seattle Sounders final outing, main coach Peter Vermes to precise frustration with their response to conceding first.
“I truly suppose we began the sport very well, we had been maintaining them of their finish, and we actually didn’t give them something in our finish,” Vermes mentioned.
“They bought their purpose off us being able to play ahead however we performed backwards. We had been for certain the higher crew on the time, however once they scored, it put us again on our heels.”
The @DjoMihailovic Rafa synergy on the ball is really particular#Rapids96 | @Ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/sCsntfbSKd
— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) September 16, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sporting Kansas Metropolis – Daniel Salloi
Salloi has scored 5 targets in 9 profession matches towards the Rapids. The one opponent he has scored extra targets towards is FC Dallas, netting eight towards them.
Colorado Rapids – Djordje Mihailovic
Mihailovic assisted each Rapids targets of their win over Portland final Saturday.
He has 65 purpose contributions for the reason that begin of the 2020 season (25 targets, 40 assists), and the one American worldwide with extra in that point is Jesus Ferreira (69).
MATCH PREDICTION – SPORTING KANSAS CITY WIN
The Rapids have gained their final two matches towards Kansas Metropolis, together with a 2-1 house success on July 4. Colorado had gained simply two of the earlier 13 matches between the perimeters (six attracts, 5 losses) courting again to the beginning of the 2018 season.
Colorado’s 3-2 victory at Dallas on their final highway journey, on August 31, in the meantime, was their fifth away win this season. Solely in 2021 (eight) and 2011 (six) have they gained extra on their travels within the post-shootout period.
Nevertheless, it is a robust take a look at for Armas’ males, with Sporting successful six of their final eight house video games throughout all competitions (one draw, one loss), their solely defeat in that span coming towards Toluca within the Leagues Cup.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Sporting Kansas Metropolis – 41.3%
Colorado Rapids – 32%
Draw – 26.7%
