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On Saturday, June 23rd, the Colorado Rapids will travel to the Peach State to play Atlanta United FC for the first time in league play within Major League Soccer at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5:00pm MDT and the match will be broadcast on Altitude.
The Colorado Rapids have had a little bit of a resurgence as of late, but the Rocky Mountain side are in last place once again in the Western Conference after a disappointing home loss to LA Galaxy on Wednesday night coupled with Minnesota United defeating the Portland Timbers. The Rapids have the worst away record in the league at 0-6 on the road and will need to start collecting points away from home if they want to have a chance of qualifying for the MLS playoffs.
Colorado (5-9-1, 15 points) were on the wrong end of a 3-1 home loss against LA Galaxy in a midweek clash at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Galaxy forward Jack McBean took advantage of a botched clearance by Axel Sjoberg early in the game but Rapids winger Dillon Serna equalized before halftime. In the second half, McBean scored his second goal of the game while Romain Alessandrini scored from the penalty spot after Bradford Jamison was fouled by Kortne Ford in the penalty area.
Atlanta United (6-7-3, 21 points), are coming off a 2-1 loss at RFK Stadium in the nation’s capital on Wednesday night. Julian Gressel scored for the visitors but it wasn’t enough as the MLS expansion side were unable to get a result on the road. Gerardo (Tata) Martino, the former FC Barcelona and Argentina national team manager, is the head coach of Atlanta United. Atlanta also has two former Rapids on their side: Jeff Larentowicz (played in Colorado from 2010-2012) and Jacob Peterson (played in Colorado from 2006-2009).
Pablo Mastroeni’s defense will have their hands full with Atlanta’s attack. Atlanta United have scored 32 goals in 16 games. Bobby Burling and Mohammed Saeid are both out of action while Kenwyne Jones and Jacob Peterson will not feature for Atlanta. A win would put the Rapids within touching distance of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Injuries
Colorado
QUESTIONABLE: none
OUT: Bobby Burling (foot), Mohammed Saeid (knee)
Atlanta
QUESTIONABLE: none
OUT: Kenwyne Jones (knee), Jacob Peterson (leg), Anton Walkes (calf)
How to Watch
Match Date/Time: Saturday, June 23, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. MDT
Venue: Bobby Dodd Stadium—Atlanta, GA
TV Information: Altitude
Radio: Altitude950
Live Stream: MLS Live (blackouts apply)
Weather at Kickoff: 82 and cloudy