Two sides struggling in the early weeks of the new season will hope for something special this Sunday when they meet at TCF Bank Stadium (Altitude TV, 4:00 p.m. MT).
The Colorado Rapids and Minnesota United FC are familiar with one another, having tied 2-2 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on March 18.
Since that encounter, the clubs have traded players. Mohammed Saeid and Joshua Gatt have moved from the Loons to the Rapids, with Sam Cronin and Marc Burch heading in the opposite direction.
Two sides in need of a spark may look to wide men, such as Marlon Hairston and Miguel Ibarra. Ibarra replaced the injured Rasmus Schuller (hip) just before half-time of Minnesota's 2-2 tie at Houston Dynamo last weekend. Both Hairston and Ibarra possess speed and skill.
Their ability to run at respective defenses which will again have changes (Jared Watts is suspended for Colorado, while goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth was forced off at Houston with a head injury), could be key for the two teams currently propping up the rest in the Western Conference.
<img alt="" src="https://colorado-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/Hairston.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 200px;"> |
<p align="center"><br><br><br><br><br><strong>vs.</strong></p> |
<img alt="" src="https://colorado-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/MNUFC17_Miguel_Ibarra_NRA2247.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 200px;"> |
<p align="center">Marlon Hairston</p> |
<strong>Name</strong> |
<p align="center">Miguel Ibarra</p> |
<p align="center">94</p> |
<strong>No.</strong> |
<p align="center">10</p> |
<p align="center">Midfield</p> |
<strong>Position</strong> |
<p align="center">Midfield</p> |
<p align="center">23</p> |
<strong>Age</strong> |
<p align="center">27</p> |
<p align="center">6’0”</p> |
<strong>Height</strong> |
<p align="center">5’6”</p> |
<p align="center">157lbs</p> |
<strong>Weight</strong> |
<p align="center">145lbs</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://colorado-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/USA flag.jpg" style="opacity: 0.9; text-align: -webkit-center; width: 75px; height: 50px;"> |
<strong>Nationality</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://colorado-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/USA flag.jpg" style="width: 75px; height: 50px;"> |
<p align="center">2014</p> |
<strong>Joined MLS</strong> |
<p align="center">2017</p> |
<p align="center">4th season</p> |
<strong>MLS Experience</strong> |
<p align="center">1st season</p> |
<p align="center">51</p> |
<strong>Appearances</strong> |
<p align="center">5</p> |
<p align="center">None</p> |
<strong>Previous clubs</strong> |
<p align="center">Club Leon, Minnesota (NASL)</p> |
<p align="center">Quick player best utilized during his MLS career on the right wing. Enjoyed a breakout year in 2016, scoring three goals and assisting on six others.</p> |
<strong>What they say …</strong> |
<p align="center">Earned the attention of then US national team head coach Jürgen Klinsmann with his speed and playmaking ability on the wing during his time in NASL.</p> |
