Columbus Crew SC will host the hottest team in Major League Soccer at the moment, when it welcomes the Colorado Rapids to MAPFRE Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night.
The Rapids are on a six-game unbeaten streak, having won five of those six matches. They come to Columbus as the top team in the West and as leaders in the Supporters’ Shield standings with 23 points. Colorado is a team that can grind out wins, as six of its seven victories this season have come by a one-goal margin.
A large contributor to the Rapids’ success has been midfielder Jermaine Jones, who joined Colorado from the New England Revolution.
“We’re familiar with what he can do for a team, with his impact that he had on New England,” Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter said. “He can control the field and is a dangerous player so we are going to have to keep an eye on him.”
Jones has had a big impact on Colorado’s offense. He scored three goals and delivered two assists in the five matches since his arrival.
“We have to look at their strengths,” midfielder Wil Trapp said. “They have Jermaine Jones who has been playing extremely well in more of an advanced role. They’re scoring goals from a multitude of ways, so we have to do our homework first and foremost and secondly just analyze what we can do better.”
Berhalter said the Black & Gold will rely on their style of play to put the pressure onto the Rapids.
“We’re a team that can put most teams on their heels and we can push them back a little,” he said. “We have done it numerous times, almost every game this year so we expect to continue that and to emphasize our style of play and disorganizing the opponent.”
Crew SC will do so without Kei Kamara, who was traded to the New England Revolution this week. Whoever gets the starting nod from Berhalter in his place will have to deal with Colorado’s tall center backs on Saturday.
“I think with them it’s just quick movement, movement around the box,” defender Corey Ashe said. “Making them uncomfortable and making them have to turn their heads, bringing them out of the center of the park.”
The Black & Gold expect a tough battle against a Colorado team that has conceded only six goals, which is second-best in MLS this year. Nevertheless, Crew SC is looking to bounce back from its disappointing 4-4 draw with the Montreal Impact and collect three points on Saturday.
“A win pushes us up in the standings potentially,” said Ashe. “We want to win for the fans and we want to win for ourselves.”
