Jul 7, 2013; Commerce City, CO, USA; Colorado Rapids defender Chris Klute (15) defends the advance of D.C. United midfielder Sainey Nyassi (27) in the second half at Dick
Two teams in Major League Soccer are coming off tough defeats on the road and will look to get their act together on Aug. 17 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. Ben Olsen’s D.C. United are 11-7-4 (37 points) after a 3-0 shutout defeat at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah to Real Salt Lake. As for Pablo Mastroeni’s Colorado Rapids, they fell to FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Tex. 3-1 for a record of 8-9-6 (30 points).
Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT/8 p.m. ET and will be televised by UDN. Here are 10 Bold Predictions for Sunday night’s match between D.C. United and the Colorado Rapids.
1. At least 40 fouls and three cards
It will be a tough, physical encounter at RFK Stadium, with the fouls piling up, as well as the cards. The MLS Multiplex is boldly predictions for at least 40 fouls whistled and three cards issued.
2. At least five saves from Bill Hamid
This season, D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid has 69 saves to his credit and will be making a flurry of stops on Sunday night at home. The Plex is called for at least five saves from Hamid against Colorado.
3. Under five saves from Clint Irwin
Hamid’s counterpart, Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Clint Irwin, will have a quiet night in goal. Don’t expect a lot of saves from Irwin in this one. The MLS Multiplex is calling for under five saves from the Rapids netminder on the road this weekend.
4. Deshorn Brown on goal for Colorado
This season, Colorado’s Deshorn Brown leads the Rapids in goalscoring with seven goals this season. Watch for Brown to finish one of his chances and score in the first half for the Rapids.
5. Vicente Sanchez on goal for Colorado
Vicente Sanchez has been hampered by injuries but is in full fitness right now. With six goals under his belt, Sanchez will score in the second half for the Rapids.
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6. Dillon Powers with a goal and an assist
Colorado’s man of the match on Sunday will be Dillon Powers, who leads the team in assists with six on the year and also has four goals on the side. Powers will get on the scoresheet with a goal and an assist on the road.
7. Fabian Espindola on goal for D.C. United
With Eddie Johnson out due to suspension, Fabian Espindola will need to light up a fire after a long layoff due to injury. Espindola leads D.C. United in goals scored with seven on the year and will record a goal and an assist on Sunday.
8. Luis Silva on the scoresheet for D.C.
D.C. United’s second-leading goalscorer this year is Luis Silva, who has five goals in 2014 coming into this contest. Silva can shoot and can finish, and he will be a beneficiary of a strong sequence of passing in the second half.
9. No goals or assists for Chris Rolfe
A notable player for D.C. that will be kept in check by Colorado is Chris Rolfe, who has four goals and five assists coming into Sunday’s match. Rolfe will not get on the scoresheet on Sunday, and that’s going to hurt D.C.’s chances of coming away with at least a draw.
10. Colorado with a statement win on the road
Even though they were stonewalled by FC Dallas last weekend, a victory by the Colorado Rapids over D.C. United at RFK Stadium will do wonders for their collective team confidence. They need this win more than D.C. do, and they will get it, but they will have to work hard to prevail.
Colorado Rapids 3, D.C. United 2