The time until the World Cup break is ticking down, as the Loons have just two home games remaining before the league takes a step back to make way for the global game. For Minnesota’s penultimate pre-June matchup at Allianz Field, the Colorado Rapids are coming to Saint Paul for a midweek fixture that could push the Loons into the top three or see them fall as far as seventh in a tight Western Conference.

Ever been whitewater rafting? The Rapids the Black and Blue face this Wednesday will require about the same level of vigilance and coordination, and should give all of us an adrenaline rush that’ll be just like riding the Colorado rivers.

Run of Form

Minnesota United FC
Run of Form: D-W-L-L-W (All Competitions)

Coming off a huge comeback win in Columbus followed by one of the most chaotic games we’ve seen all season against Austin FC, the Loons have put that pair of narrow losses to lethal opponents (San Jose and LAFC) behind them and started to evolve their attack in exciting ways. They’re now tied at 21 points in the West alongside Seattle and LAFC, and a decisive victory this Wednesday could be instrumental in solidifying their status as a solid threat among the league’s top dogs.

Colorado Rapids
Run of Form: L-L-W-L-D (All Competitions)

After beginning the season in solid fashion, grabbing 12 points through their first seven games, Matt Wells’ Rapids have had a rough run as of late. Their only win in the last five matches was a 5:4 PK victory against USL Championship side Switchbacks FC in U.S. Open Cup play, and the club hasn’t won a regular-season match since that 6-2 rout of Houston on Matchday 7. Colorado is currently 11th in the West with 13 points and struggling to create and maintain the kind of forward motion necessary to survive this packed Western Conference. After a disappointing home loss to bottom-dweller St. Louis CITY on Saturday, Colorado will be desperate for a bounceback result in their midweek affair in Saint Paul.

Keys to the Match:

Rapid-Fire Attack

Despite their recent run of form, Colorado still possesses one of the most active and effective midfields in the league. They’re among the league’s highest-possession clubs at 56.4%, and when you look at their passing accuracy percentage, it’s no surprise. Second in the league at 88.6%, their rapid-fire exchanges (pun intended) throughout the central third are engineered by DP midfielder Paxten Aaronson, who has logged three goals in this campaign and emerged as a dominant name on Wells’ roster alongside Rafael Navarro, Darren Yapi, and Georgi Minoungou, a familiar face recently acquired from Seattle who has always presented a fast-paced threat to the Loons. Pair their up-tempo attacking movement with the fact that they lead the league in free kicks (209), and you have a club that knows how to keep and progress the ball and win set pieces.

Magic No. 10

Despite leaving points on the table in Matchday 12, the Black and Blue played a physical game against Austin that forced their attack to evolve. A large part of that evolution can be credited to the one and only James Rodríguez, who subbed on in the last third of the match and proceeded to immediately change the game with his world-class passing quality. His pair of beautiful assists to Anthony Markanich and Joaquín Pereyra earned him a Team of the Matchday spot and a Man of the Match performance. This Wednesday’s matchup will be James’ last before departing for Colombia’s training camp ahead of the World Cup, which begs the question of whether he’ll start for the Loons and make his last hurrah one to remember. In whatever capacity he takes to the pitch against Colorado, expect to see the world-class acumen of a global soccer veteran take the field by storm.

Card Games

Yellow cards are one of the most unpredictable parts of soccer, not simply because of the scoring opportunities they can create, but also because of the impact they can have on a squad’s mental state and the flow of the game. We saw this firsthand against Austin, with a tally of seven yellows mounting one of the most emotionally charged matches the Loons have ever seen. 

The Rapids are tied for second in the league in yellow cards with 31 to their name. They also picked up their second red of the campaign in their most recent loss to St. Louis CITY, making back line staple Rob Holding unavailable this Wednesday. They’re third in MLS in fouls committed with 166, a mouthwatering stat for a Loons side looking to engineer some of the set pieces chances that have proven so lucrative in the past.

However, the Rapids have also drawn more fouls than any other club in the league at 176. The Loons are in the bottom 10 in that regard. Much like Austin did over the weekend, the Rapids will likely try to force Minnesota into a physical, frustrating game, and the home team will need to keep their composure to avoid landing names in the book and giving Colorado free opportunities. It’s a double-edged sword, and the Loons have to find the balance to make the most of the chances that don’t come within run of play — those high-stakes moments that can make or break the game.