Success in one game could lead to more, at least that’s what the Colorado Rapids are counting on.
The Rapids won for the first time last week and look to make it a two-game winning streak when they take on host Charlotte FC on Saturday night.
“I hope we can start from here,” forward Diego Rubio said.
Coming off a 1-0 road victory at Sporting Kansas City, the Rapids (1-3-3, 6 points) will make their first visit to Charlotte in franchise history.
Colorado coach Robin Fraser directed his 100th game with the Rapids last week. He wants to rack up more if there are similar results.
“We feel we have so much more ahead of us,” Fraser said.
Charlotte FC (1-4-2, 5 points) is on a three-game winless stretch (0-1-2).
“We need to put things in perspective,” Charlotte FC coach Christian Lattanzio said. “The guys played, at times, good football. We were exposed at times by not doing the things we rehearsed in training. … This is a league that we know is quite taxing from a physical point of view. Especially at key positions, we have young guys who are doing their best, but sometimes they can make mistakes.”
Colorado goalkeeper William Yarbrough will be aiming for a record. He has 29 career regular-season clean sheets, tying the team record set by Matt Pickens.
Defense has been the cornerstone for whatever success the Rapids have had.
“I feel like we defend very well,” Rubio said.
Colorado hasn’t allowed a goal in two games this month.
“We ended up defending like crazy,” Fraser said. “The one thing you need is this kind of fight and this kind of resiliency.
It’s unlikely that Charlotte FC will have midfielder Ashley Westwood, who hasn’t played since March 18 because of a thigh injury, or goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina, who has yet to play this season because of a back ailment.
“A work in progress,” Lattanzio said. “I wish I could say differently that we’re having them back. We have to trust everybody that is available. We have to put our head down and work.”
–Field Level Media
