Timing is everything. After an 18-day break from MLS action, the Colorado Rapids return to active duty on Saturday with a trip to Toronto FC, a side which went top of the Eastern Conference following a battling 2-2 tie at New York City in midweek.
The Canadian club are back inside BMO Field this weekend, a stage which they have dominated this season, boasting a 7-0-2 record. They have yet to lose at home, scoring 21 goals and conceding just six.
On the flip side, the visiting Rapids are 0-7-0 on the road, managing a mere two goals while giving up 13. They are the only team in all of Major League Soccer yet to register a point on their travels.
But, as previously mentioned … timing is everything. The break has allowed the Rapids to re-group, re-think, and re-set. It has also given injured players the opportunity to get healthy, and afforded those that had only recently recovered - the likes of Nana Boateng and Axel Sjöberg - a little extra time to make sure they are sharp, as well as fit.
And, while the Rapids will be missing Tim Howard due to Gold Cup commitments, high-flying Toronto are without Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley or Justin Morrow (though Tosaint Ricketts, Jonathan Osorio and Armando Cooper should be available, following the exit of Canada and Panama). On top of missing key players, Head Coach Greg Vanney will watch from the stands. He was dismissed during the tie in the Bronx.
That said, Toronto will remain a tough opponent, particularly if Sebastian Giovinco can recover from a lower back injury which forced his early withdrawal at NYC on Wednesday night. The Italian has nine goals and four assists in 15 appearances this season. Overall, the Italian striker boasts 48 MLS goals and 35 assists in 76 games.
Others expected to pose problems include former Cruz Azul and Club Brugge creative force Víctor Vázquez (four goals, 10 assists), who came up through the Barcelona youth system with Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas, and good friends Gerard Piqué and Sergio Busquets.
Toronto have added to their numbers during the transfer window. They have brought in right-sided Liechtenstein international Nicholas Hasler. He was on the bench for the midweek match.
This will be a 16th meeting with Toronto in MLS. In eight previous trips to Ontario, the Rapids have managed just one win in eight visits. Indeed, they are 1-7-0 all up, with that solitary victory coming in 2014 in a game where they mustered their only shutout to date against Saturday’s hosts.
With this game, the Rapids begin a tough stretch of seven road games out of the next nine. They have 16 games remaining in the regular season, and resume knowing that the run of road reversals has to end if they are to clamber into the playoff places.
TEAM NEWS
Rapids:Bobby Burling (out - foot), Shkëlzen Gashi (questionable - calf), Mekeil Williams (out - yellow card accumulation).
Toronto: Steven Beitashour (out - abdominal injury/spleen), Sebastian Giovinco (questionable - back), Nick Hagglund (questionable - MCL tear).
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Altitude
Radio: Altitude Sports Radio AM 950; La Invasora 87.7FM (Spanish)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Juan Guzman
Assistant 1 (bench): Craig Lowry
Assistant 2 (opposite): Peter Balciunas
4th Official: Ricardo Salazar
