New York Red Bulls - Colorado Rapids: Head To Head Preview

On Form

New York Red Bulls, by Terence Steed: After a loss to Real Salt Lake last week, the Red Bulls are in need of their returning internationals.  The midfield upgrade of Rafa Marquez and Dane Richards should snap the team back into another winning streak.  The Juan Pablo Angel and Thierry Henry partnership may not have produced last week, but they are slowly building their mutual understanding and before the RSL game they were clicking.

Colorado Rapids, Thomas Kelly: With six goals in their last two games the Rapids have caught fire at the most important time of the season. There are only eight games left before the playoffs and the Rapids need to keep playing well if they want to have a chance of prolonging their season. Omar Cummings has been playing well lately and seems to be at the heart of the Colorado attack so look for him to continue his fine form.

Off Target

New York: Despite the fact that the defense has looked stable most of the season there are cracks beginning to show.  Tim Ream and Carlos Mendes frequently make mistakes which require one of the other defenders to bail them out.  See last week’s result.  The back four needs to cut out those mistakes if they want to have a long post-season.

Tactics

New York: 4-4-2 Diamond.  If all the internationals return fit and ready to play on Saturday the August lineup that served Hans Backe so well will return.  Roy Miller may struggle to make it as he saw significant minutes for Costa Rica, but his understudy Danleigh Borman is hardly a drop off.  Tactically, the Red Bulls need Rafa Marquez on the ball and must pinpoint the correct times to get Dane Richards involved, so as not to put too much pressure on the inconsistent winger.

Colorado: Since going back to a 4-4-2 formation the rapids have been unstoppable in offense. Both Conner Casey and Omar Cummings were on target for the rapids last game and the midfield has been coming forward to create chances forming s high firing offense. Colorado needs to keep their shape and the back and not allow Juan Pablo Angel from exploiting any chances he might get. They cannot allow Angel or Henry to use their experience and get in behind to get an early goal or two.

Intangibles

New York: This is the only home game for the Red Bulls in September.  That’s a September that has Real Salt Lake, FC Dallas, and the LA Galaxy away.  The Red Bulls need to capitalize on this home game to keep the fickle NY/NJ fans entertained.  Luckily for the Red Bulls, Toronto FC and the Chicago Fire are not a serious threat to the automatic playoff spot, which takes the pressure off.

Colorado: New York gave up a goal early in their last game and were unable to recover and the Rapids will be hoping to exploit this weakness and have the Red Bulls on their heels early on. If the Rapids can continue to dominate possession in midfield and create the same chances they have in their last two games they should have no trouble putting a few in the back of the Red Bulls' net. Colorado cannot afford to be caught on the break however and need to make sure they don't commit too many men forward and leave themselves exposed at the back. The rapids defense has been shaky in the past but has managed two shut outs in their last two games so they hope to keep up their defensive form. Their biggest threat will come from Angel who managed to score when these tow teams met in July.

Outcome

New York: 1-0 Red Bulls.  The Colorado Rapids are no pushovers, but the Red Bulls should utilize home advantage, and more importantly, the return of four starters, to get at least one goal.

Colorado: They have been creating and finishing chances in front of goal lately and hope to continue this on saturday night . Look for both Cummings and Casey to use their speed up top to annoy the Red Bulls back line all night. However, Im not sure Colorado can go into New York with the playoffs on the line and come out with a win. With the previous meeting between these two teams finishing in a draw I predict the same outcome this weekend with both teams finding the net twice.