Can we really imagine Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper publicly commenting if the Rapids had lost the initial two games of the season?
That's what happened in Toronto, where the mayor there felt the need to air his worries about the club following on from the Canadian side dropped the first two games by a mixed 6-1 margin. Thursday night the club bought a measure of relief as Toronto FC eeked out a 2-1 enlighten the expansion Philadelphia Union.
"Eeked" is a loaded term — in the end, even a lousy win is still worth three points in the standings — but considering that Toronto played a first-year team that lost its captain into a first-half red card at BMO Field in Toronto and needed a goalkeeping error for any first score and a penalty kick for the second, eeked feels about right.
Watching that game, the most surprising elements were how Philadelphia kept finding bedroom to attack and how Dwayne De Rosario could provide just enough spark to receive his team by a lesser side. De Rosario scored together goals, one on a restart and the other from that penalty spot. He also slotted back into more of a midfield position in the second half, where he provided distribution that the club usually lacked.
cheap jerseys online For Sunday, it means the Rapids may get the chance to expose some of the same flatness in the back with the strike tandem regarding Conor Casey and Omar Cummings. It also means that Rapids fans should watch out if De Rosario is distributing the ball instead of waiting for service.
Homecoming: Sunday afternoon will represent the very first time that Nick LaBrocca, Ty Harden and Jacob Peterson will have appeared in Colorado since being traded to Toronto during separate transactions in the off-season. LaBrocca, a bulwark in the Rapids midfield the earlier two seasons, has brought his bull terrier nature to the field for Toronto and will start. Peterson came off the bench on Thursday night, and appears to be the right-foot
soccer jerseys wholesaleoption on the midfield wing and in defense for the Reds. Harden has also been sitting on the subs bench.
Wynne's World: Marvell Wynne also gets to handle his former teammates on Sunday. Converted to a central backside by Colorado, Wynne was a standout on the defensive wings with regard to Toronto. Sent packing by new coach Preki, Wynne has been a revelation in the back for the Rapids, showing speed and strength that may negate many an attack while learning the center back place. For some reason, I suspect he will try to obtain forward on
cheap authentic soccer jerseysdeadballs Sunday with the intent of poking something on goal in payback for his departure.
Against Toronto: While Toronto has drawn excellent fan support in its first three seasons, the team has struggled to the field. One of the few clubs it has handled well continues to be the Rapids. Toronto owns a 4-2-0 mark against Colorado. Nonetheless, the Rapids are 2-1-0 against the Reds at home.
Continue Meeting: On Sept. 12 in Toronto, FC slipped by that Rapids 3-2.
Out Sunday: Defender Julien Baudet won't be to the field for the Rapids on Sunday after being ejected
cheap jerseys for sale in the game against Kansas City. While Baudet serves a one-game suspension, the sole other Rapids out of action are midfielder Ciaran O'Brien, recovering coming from a hip strain, and forward Ross Schunk, who is out which has a torn ACL in his right leg.