Let's take a closer look at a few storylines worth keeping an eye on ahead of Thursday’s 9:30 PM match against the Colorado Rapids (Watch live on MSG, starting with the 9:00 PM pre-game show).
Rocky Road in The Mile High City
Since the inception of Dick’s Sports Goods Park in 2007, the Red Bulls have posted a 1-3-1 road record against Colorado. Offensively the Red Bulls have struggled to get a few on the board, as New York has scored just three goals in five games. Of course, every season is different and anything can happen on any given night in MLS. If last season’s home match at Red Bull Arena is an indication of things to come this Thursday, a 4-1 victory at Red Bull Arena, then hopefully New York will add three points to their position in the Eastern Conference.
Colorado Playoff Contention
In the month of June, Colorado pieced together 1-3-1 record, with that lone win coming just this past weekend in a 4-3 victory against the Eastern Conference leading Montreal Impact. Coming into Thursday’s match, the Rapids sit one point behind the Galaxy for the fifth seed in the Western Conference, so expect the Rapids to come out strong.
Quick Turnaround
With such a quick turnaround, will fatigue play a factor in Thursday’s match? Each team is facing a similar travel schedule as the Rapids returned home from Montreal after their match Saturday, and the Red Bulls will take a flight out mid-week. The four-day turnaround sees both teams riding high off victories, so fatigue and a desire for rest likely won’t be that big a factor for two clubs looking to feed off momentum.
Upward at the Halfway Point
The Red Bulls played game number 18 of the season Sunday, officially kicking off the second half of the campaign. With the Red Bulls’ 2-0 victory over Houston, New York regained a temporary hold on the number two seed in the East. The return of Jamison Olave on the back line and Tim Cahill in the midfield was evident in the team’s performance on both sides of the ball. This win was huge for New York’s confidence, and you know Mike Petke doesn’t want to let up now.
