Perhaps it is the knockout format, perhaps it is the change of pace but cup competitions can sometimes act as a catalyst for improvements in the league.
Colorado Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni will be hoping that is the case on Tuesday as he takes his side to Houston in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16.
Victory would send his side into the quarter-finals for the first time since 2007. But, more importantly, it would provide some sort of solace after back-to-back road defeats against Orlando and Sporting KC last week.
Rapids have been traveling since last Tuesday and could do with “a break” in both senses of the word.
The winner of this match faces a trip to Kansas or Dallas in the final eight on July 21 or 22.
THE OPPOSITION
This is the first Open Cup meeting between these two sides and neither team has beaten a MLS side in this competition since 2006. In fact Owen Coyle’s side are 1-5-0 in this event against teams at the same level.
Houston are 5-7-5 in the Western Conference right now and one place above Rapids in the standings. Like the Rapids, they have lost their last two MLS games. In the last round of the Open Cup they knocked out Austin Aztex thanks to goals by Leonel Miranda and Ricardo Clark.
According to the Dynamo’s website, forward Mauro Manotas and keeper Joe Willis are likely to start. Neither have MLS minutes this season and head coach Owen Coyle is expected to change his regular side.
Earlier this season, the two teams played out a goalless draw at BBVA Compass Stadium. That can’t happen on Tuesday even if it takes extra-time and penalties to find a winner.
PABLO MASTROENI SAYS
“We traveled with 21 players so we are still waiting to see how people are after the game at Kansas City. Obviously it was going to be a difficult trip in terms of the climate and the type of games we were facing.
"The Sporting KC match was quite a battle but we are looking to utilize players from that game and we’ll put a good team out on the field.
“A win would be massive. How we achieve that is about what we can control - a plan, the execution and our mentality. At KC I felt like we did enough to get a result but again it was about a lack of finishing our chances. It is the little moments really. You need to find one little moment that can inspire you individually and the team as a whole.
“It will be a difficult game at Houston and we can’t look past it. A win would boost the mentality of the group and progress us in the U.S Open Cup, which is a competition we can push really hard for and look towards some silverware.”
Team news:
Houston: Lovejoy (questionable – hamstring)
Rapids: Sjoberg (knee), Ramirez (hamstring), LaBrocca (sickness).
Notes:
This game will be streamed live HERE.
