Robin Fraser didn’t admit to any tactical blunders the Rapids’ loss on Sunday.
What Colorado’s head coach did say is his club was not up for the fight against Real Salt Lake.
The Rapids were out-worked in a 2-0 loss in their MLS is Back Tournament debut in Florida. They return to the field Friday night for a matchup against a highly talented Sporting Kansas City squad.
“My message to the team was just be true to yourself and I think based on the performance that we had no one felt like they gave a really good account of themselves,” Fraser said. “This is a proud group. It’ll look different on Friday.”
So will the Rapids’ lineup. Starting goalkeeper Clint Irwin suffered a head injury during Sunday’s match and is likely out, with recently acquired Liga MX veteran William Yarbrough poised to debut.
Forward Andre Shinyashiki is also questionable for the game, meaning either Diego Rubio or Jonathan Lewis will be promoted from the bench, or newly acquired 19-year-old Argentinian Braian Galván could see action.
Jeremy Kelly debuted against Real Salt Lake at right back with a shaky performance. If Keegan Rosenberry is given the green light, he will take back the spot he’s held for over a year.
“We’ve waited so long for that moment to be back on the field,” captain Jack Price said. “We feel like we let ourselves down in terms of not having enough fight as a team. … There’ll definitely be a reaction.”
What the Rapids are up against will not be easy. Sporting is not only a perennial playoff team, but an angry one. The team lost a 2-1 heartbreaker Sunday to Minnesota United, conceding each score in stoppage time.
The chaos played out after Kansas City lost its one-time MLS Goaltender of the Year, Tim Melia, to a red card late in the match. Each shot on target backup Richard Sanchez faced went in. Sporting will be relying on Sanchez again Friday due to the one-match ban Melia’s red card carries.
“I think their frustration is probably equal to ours,” Fraser said. “If they feel anything like we do then I would expect it to be an extremely hotly contested game. It’s gonna be a game very well worth watching.”
Aside from the frustration, it’s do-or-die time for each side. The way the tournament is formatted makes it unlikely that either team will get past the group stage with just a draw. A loss would certainly end either team’s hopes.
“We’re definitely going to see more aggression from our side,” Price said. “The way this tournament is set out now we’ve got ourselves a bit of a mountain to climb. If we can win the next one, we put ourselves back in it. We need the three points and that’s the message.”
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Rapids enter match with Sporting Kansas City with must-win mentality: “We need the three points” - The Denver Post
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