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Orlando City Vs Colorado Rapids: 3 things to watch for – Can Nani deliver?

By Connor Dittmeier

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 16: Orlando City forward Chris Mueller (9) stops the ball from going out of play during the soccer match between the Montreal Impact and the Orlando City Lions on March 16, 2019, at Orlando City Stadium in Orlando FL. (Photo by Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 16: Orlando City forward Chris Mueller (9) stops the ball from going out of play during the soccer match between the Montreal Impact and the Orlando City Lions on March 16, 2019, at Orlando City Stadium in Orlando FL. (Photo by Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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COMMERCE CITY, CO – MARCH 17: Benny Feilhaber #6 of Colorado Rapids tackles the ball from Graham Zusi #8 of Sporting Kansas City during the first half at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on March 17, 2019 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
COMMERCE CITY, CO – MARCH 17: Benny Feilhaber #6 of Colorado Rapids tackles the ball from Graham Zusi #8 of Sporting Kansas City during the first half at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on March 17, 2019 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

2. Can Rapids’ diamond midfield come together?

The Colorado Rapids have been unable to get the best out of their offense thus far. The Rapids are averaging just over a goal per game.  Since their first match of the 2019 season, when the Rapids scored three goals for a draw against the Portland Timbers, the squad has underwhelmed in advancing the ball into the penalty box.

Much to the Rapids’ dismay, Orlando’s defense is trending in the right direction. While the Lions have suffered two disappointing losses to D.C. United and the Montreal Impact, there is a better structure in place than in years past.

Anthony Hudson has utilized a couple of different formations to middling success. Yet, the set up continues to focus around the diamond midfield. Throughout the season, the squad has been unable to create opportunities and have struggled to contain the opposition. The diamond shape for the midfield has a narrow identity on progressing the ball through the middle of the park. It is a constrained, almost methodical, strategy, but no less devastating when performed by the correct players. Unfortunately, the Rapids are ineffective in executing Hudson’s strategy. Hudson was quoted this week:

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"“We’re still very much a work in progress in terms of where we want to be in the midfield.”"

Hudson recognizes that the team needs more time to get on the right track. Yet, if his strategy does not materialize into success in the near future, he may have to abandon this tactic to better fit the players at his disposal.

The Rapids’ current struggles are compounded by the notion that in three matches they suffered a red card. Two of the sending-offs, the first against the Portland Timbers and the second against Sporting Kansas City, occurred when Colorado were in the lead. Against Sporting KC, the red card came late in the match, leading to Johnny Russell scoring the equalizer from a freekick directly following Johan Blomberg’s dismissal.

Orlando’s defense congests the middle of the park with their two deeper-lying midfielders. Jame O’Connor’s side is quite adept at creating opportunities on the counter-attack from out wide. As a result, the Rapids’ full-backs will be under a great deal of pressure to handle the Lions’ João Moutinho and Ruan, in addition to keeping an eye on Nani and Dwyer, if either were to drift out wide.

Should Colorado grab an early goal in the match, they just might use their possession-based formation to their advantage. Saturday night’s matchup will be an enticing affair as both sides endeavor to gain traction in MLS.

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