Colorado Rapids MatchDay First Look: Portland Timbers

The Colorado Rapids take on MLS Cup Champions Portland Timbers in a rare Monday night match for the Burgundy Boys as they look to celebrate the birthday of the United States.

There will be large crowds!

There will be (hopefully) good soccer!

There will be (hopefully) a win!

There will be fireworks!

And, that Tim Howard guy.  Maybe you have heard of him.

Here is our FirstLook at the match:

The Records

The Rapids are 9-2-5 (32 points, 2.0 PPG) and sit first in the Western Conference and first in the Supporters Shield Standings.  The Timbers are currently fifth in the Western Conference at 6-6-5 (23 points, 1.35 PPG) and are in eighth in the Supporters Shield Race

Recent Results

25 October 2015:  1-4 loss at Portland Timbers

30 May 2015:  1-2 loss at Dick's Sporting Goods Park

13 September 2014:  2-2 draw at Dick's Sporting Goods Park

18 July 2014:  1-2 loss at Portland Timbers

22 March 2014:  2-0 win at Dick's Sporting Goods Park

Basic Statistics

Initial Early Thoughts

Portland can score goals.  Boy, can they score goals.  They have scored the most in the Western Conference and second most in all of Major League Soccer.  Scoring goals is not their issue.  The issue is that they have the second worst defense in all of MLS.  So all of their goal scoring is necessary for without it, they would be a dreadful team.

But the Timbers are not dreadful, and they are beginning to look like the defending MLS Cup Champions and appear poised to make another deep run in the playoffs.

However there are a couple of things that could be going against the Timbers on Monday:

1)  The best defense in MLS

2)  The Rapids traditionally play well on July 4

3)  Tim Howard's first start

4)  John Spencer might want to get one over on his former team

5)  And the Rapids are gonna be pissed about the way they went out in the US Open Cup.

How does it turn out?  We will find out on Monday night at 7PM.