The Colorado Rapids will look to build momentum for the MLS playoffs when they visit the struggling Houston Dynamo on Sunday afternoon.
The Rapids (15-7-10, 55 points) have already clinched a berth in the playoffs and one of the top four seeds (and thus a first-round home match) in the Western Conference. Entering the weekend three points behind Sporting Kansas City and the Seattle Sounders, Colorado was still in the running for the top spot in the conference and a first-round bye with two matches to play.
The Rapids head to Houston after a 1-0 loss at record-setting New England on Wednesday. Colorado is 2-3-1 over its first six matches in the month of October.
A win Sunday would be the Rapids’ 16th of the season (their most since they had 20 in 1999) and would expand their point total to 58, tying a club mark established in 2016.
“For us it’s very much about improving and working on the very small details that are going to make a very big difference as we go down the line,” Colorado coach Robin Fraser said. “By the same token, we want to pick up points. That is certainly part of the two-fold goal of this weekend, is to gain points and to continue to improve.”
The Dynamo (6-14-12, 30 points) have long been eliminated from the postseason. Houston is in 11th place in the West and cannot improve its standing, as the three Texas-based MLS teams (Houston, FC Dallas and expansion Austin FC) make up the bottom of the West table.
Houston has dropped two straight matches after a stunning 2-1 home win over Seattle on Oct. 16.
“Over time, we trust the process and we know this club is going in a good direction,” Dynamo midfielder Ian Hoffmann said. “So we will just keep going. I’m looking forward to the next two games. Hopefully, we can end the season strong.”
The Rapids have won the first two meetings between the teams this season, beating Houston 3-1 at home on May 15 and matching that score in the Bayou City on Aug. 14.
–Field Level Media
