COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — The Colorado Rapids (2-1-2, 8 pts) will look to extend a four-game unbeaten run as they travel to Frisco, Texas, to take on FC Dallas (2-1-2, 8 pts) on Saturday night. Kickoff at Toyota Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. MT and the match will be broadcast on Altitude Sports (Altitude 2; Altitude Sports Radio 950 AM).
“The message to the team\] has been just about efficiency in the final third,” said Rapids head coach Robin Fraser [ahead of Saturday’s game. “We’re doing a lot of things well and we just need to be a little bit sharper in the final third. We’ve talked about a number of different ways and worked at it for a few days and the hope is that we continue to play well and then finish a few more of our opportunities.”
Colorado enter Saturday’s game following a 1-1 home draw against Rocky Mountain rivals Real Salt Lake last weekend. The visitors went ahead via a penalty kick from Pablo Ruiz in the final minute of the first half before defender Lalas Abubakar equalized in the 56th minute, getting on the end of low cross into the box from Michel Barrios following a set piece that RSL was unable to clear. The goal was Abubakar’s fourth in Burgundy and sixth in MLS. Colorado has never lost a game when Abubakar has scored; three of his four goals for the club have been game-winners or ensured the Rapids collected at least a point from the match. Abubakar’s goal also extended the Rapids’ unbeaten run in 2022 to four games (2-0-2).
Fraser’s side will face a new-look FC Dallas that appears to be making a drastic defensive turnaround from a 2021 season that saw it concede a Western Conference-worst 56 goals. Through their first five games of the season, Dallas has conceded the third-fewest goals in the league (3), while allowing the fewest shots in MLS at an average of only two per game. The Texan club, which currently holds an identical record to the Rapids in 2022, are unbeaten at home this season and will host Colorado after seeing out a 0-0 draw on the road with Chicago Fire FC this past weekend. U.S. Men’s National Team forward Jesus Ferreira leads the team with three goals and an assist, while Dallas also counts of the services of fellow U.S. international Paul Arriola (1g, 1a) who joined the club in an MLS-record transfer this past offseason.
The Rapids’ trip to Texas will mark just the second road game of the regular season for Colorado, which has been one of the most successful teams away from home in recent years. The club finished the condensed 2020 season tied for the most road wins (5), while in 2021, the Rapids compiled the third-best road record in MLS and second-best in the Western Conference (8W-6L-3D). Colorado is currently unbeaten against Dallas in their past three encounters (2-0-1).
Saturday’s match will see the return of Michael Barrios and Bryan Acosta to their former club. Barrios spent six seasons with FC Dallas before joining the Rapids in 2021, leaving as the club’s second all-time leader in combined goals and assists (75). During his time in Texas, the Colombian winger helped Dallas capture the 2016 MLS Supporters’ Shield and the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, while being named the club’s MVP in 2017. Acosta joined FC Dallas in 2019, making 60 appearances and recording two goals and five assists during his three seasons with the club.
