#FCDvCOL Starting XI and Game Thread

Eleven points below the playoff redline and in dead last, the Rapids are either digging themselves out of their grave one game at a time or pounding the final nails in the coffin of 2017. Sorry for the morbid language, but hey, truth sometimes looks more like a Tim Burton movie than a Pixar fairy-tale.

FC Dallas started the 2017 season unbeaten in 9 straight games, before coming back down to earth a little more - only 11 points in their last 8 games. They currently sit fourth in the Western Conference on 34 points. Dallas’ defense has been the biggest culprit, as the hoops have conceded at least one goal in each of their last 9 games.

The Rapids are keeping the lineup pretty similar to past weeks, and neither of the Rapids new acquisitions, Stefan Aigner and Luis Gil, are in the starting lineup. Gil does make the bench, though.

Meanwhile Dallas will start two former Rapids, Atiba Harris and Maynor Figueroa, and line up in what looks a lot like an empty-bucket 4-4-2, as both their central midfielders, Kellyn Acosta and Victor Ulloa, are typically defensive-mids. Field visionary Mauro Diaz is on the bench.

Colorado Rapids Starting XI

Howard; Miller, Watts, Sjöberg, da Fonte; Azira, Saeid, Hairston, Gashi; Badji, Doyle.

FC Dallas Starting XI

Gonzalez; Grana, Harris, Hedges, Figueroa; Barrios, Acosta, Ulloa, Lamah; Colman, Urruti

Open thread in the comments, y’all.