Colorado Rapids vs Seattle Sounders FC: Predictions, Odds and Roster Notes

What: Colorado Rapids at Seattle Sounders FC

Where: CenturyLink Field in Seattle, WA

When: Saturday, March 9th at 10:00 PM EST

How (TV/Radio): ESPN+, Altitude, JoeTV, Youtube TV | 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM, Altitude 92.5 FM

Colorado Rapids (Away)

Head Coach: Anthony Hudson {Current: 0-1-0 (1) | Top Scorer(s): Kei Kamara (1) Benny Feilhaber (1) Andre Shinyashiki (1)}

Key Players: Kei Kamara, Benny Feilhaber, Tim Howard

Expected Starting XI (4-4-2 Dmd): Howard, Serna – Wynne – Sjoberg – Rosenberry, Acosta – Feilhaber – Mezquida – Bassett, Rubio – Kamara

After struggling to score in Colorado’s previous campaign, management made it a point to upgrade their forward positions. Enter Kei Kamara and Diego Rubio who, as per the first match of the season, have shown that getting goals won’t be as difficult in 2019.

The Colorado Rapids want to make a run to the playoffs this year and they started with a match against the Portland Timbers. Despite having a man sent off in the early portions of the match, they were able to take away a point in a 3-3 draw against Portland. Scoring was the least of their problems, playing well on the counter despite being a man down.

When Colorado takes on Seattle Sounders FC, they will be taking on one of the most consistent franchises in the MLS who sport one of the most intimidating atmospheres in the world boasting an average attendance of 43, 666. Sounders outmatched their competition in their opening match, but the Rapids have the personnel to put up a better fight.

Seattle Sounders (Home)

Head Coach: Brian Schmetzer {Current: 1-0-0 (3) | Top Scorer: Jordan Morris (2) }

Key Players: Nicolas Lodeiro, Raul Ruidiaz, Cristian Roldan

Expected Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Frei, Smith – Marshall – Kee-Hee – Leerdam, Rollin – Svensson, Rodriguez – Lodeiro – Morris, Ruidiaz

While the Seattle Sounders are notorious for their slow starts, they seem to be on the right foot going forward into this season. They have no injured players to wait on and have dependable veteran players taking the lead as the Sounders look toward another MLS Cup run.

The Sounders were dominant in their first match. Jordan Morris seems to be making up for lost time, having scored two goals within ten minutes of each other in the first half. It helped that they were playing against a defensive FC Cincinnati team, but the Sounders could not have gotten off on a better foot to start the year.

The Sounders will face off against a dynamic attacking team in the Colorado Rapids. They have an incredible amount of pace, especially due to the acquisition of Sierra Leonean Kei Kamara, and veteran leadership to guide them forward. Sounders will have to tread carefully against the fast attacking Rapids.

What’s At Stake?

Seattle Sounders FC have been the model for many teams in the MLS. The Colorado Rapids haven’t been able to break them, holding a record of 3-8 when playing the Sounders.

A win for the Sounders would keep them at the top of the table with an impressive second-week goal difference.

Colorado hopes to separate themselves from the middle of the pack with their first win of the season.

Questions to answer

Will better weather provide a better result?

Is there is more to Jordan Morris’ return?

We are going to compare the Colorado Rapids and Seattle Sounders FC in an attempt to see who has the advantage in this matchup.

Colorado Played In The Coldest MLS Game Ever

What can you expect of Colorado? In what was an intense match, the Rapids were able to take home a point after having a man sent off within the first half. Blame the early season or the weather, the Rapids were in a tough situation. Their composure considering the conditions though was impressive.

There are probably only two teams in the MLS that can boast that they are comfortable playing in temperatures like the Rapids did on opening weekend – both their Canadian brethren Toronto FC and Impact de Montreal. What was impressive for the Rapids was their ability to counter the hard-charging Timbers in some dreadful snow and ice.

Perhaps the Rapids could use some more snow to inspire their future performances. Some late heroics from Andre Shinyashiki brought the Rapids level, but you could see from the Rapids play that a goal was certainly in the cards. The Rapids are an impressive team from the looks of their first match. Disciplined yet energetic, the Rapids may surprise many this year.

Morris Looks Different

It may very well be the haircut, but it is important to note that Jordan Morris looked like a different player when he stepped on the pitch for the Sounders. After a nightmare season where Morris tore his ACL, the young forward is back a year older and a year wiser to remind the MLS he is still a capable player.

Morris’ interplay with his teammates was brilliant. On his first goal, Morris timed a perfect run and got in right behind the vacant right back for a brilliant goal. The second was a confident first-time strike with his left foot that went right into goal.

Along with his goals was fantastic tactical awareness, which Morris attributed to his time sitting off the pitch and having to sharpen his mind before his body. Morris plays more maturely, almost a different player than he was before. He’s no Andrea Pirlo, but Morris’ composure in possession and his sharpness in attack were incredibly impressive in the Sounders’ opening win.

Colorado Rapids Roster Notes

D Kortne Ford – 5 Mar 2019 – OUT (Knee) – will not be available for the match.

D Kofi Opare – 5 Mar 2019 – OUT (Foot) – will not be available for the match.

M Sam Nicholson – 5 Mar 2019 – Questionable (Back) – will be a match day decision for the Rapids.

D Tommy Smith – 5 Mar 2019 – Questionable (Knee) – is not expected to be available but will be a match day decision.

D Sam Vines – 5 Mar 2019 – Questionable (Quad) – is unlikely to play as he is still rehabilitating a quad injury. It will be a match day decision.

Seattle Sounders FC Roster Notes

M Henry Wingo – 5 Mar 2019 – Questionable (Groin) – Wingo was experiencing acute groin pain and is undergoing physiotherapy. He will be a match day decision.

Head-to-Head: Kei Kamara (COL) vs Jordan Morris (SEA)

Look no further than the top of the field on each end to see the key players for this matchup. Both teams are notorious for starting slowly and thus both teams have inserted players this season to combat that issue. Kei Kamara is a proven MLS veteran with goals and pace galore. On the other Jordan Morris is out to prove he still has quality, – he is off to a great start.

Kei Kamara

Forward | 188cm, 79kg (6-2, 174lb)| Sierra Leone | Exp. Years

351 Apps | 283 Starts | 0.41 Gls/90 | 0.55 G+A/90 | 1.31 SoT | 1.62 Fls | 0.14 Crd

It took only sixteen minutes for Kei Kamara to open his goalscoring account in Burgundy for the Colorado Rapids. Once famed for his pace, at 34 years old Kamara may have slowed down but maintained the attacking instincts to be a dangerous threat in the box. Seattle’s depth in midfield may hinder Kamara, but should he get ample service he is sure to have more attempts on target.

Jordan Morris

Forward | 181cm, 83kg (5-11, 183lb)| United States | Exp. 3 Years

58 Apps | 55 Starts | 0.32 Gls/90 | 0.42 G+A/90 | 0.99 SoT | 0.84 Fls | 0.00 Crd

Jordan Morris scored a brace for the Sounders in what seemed like a star-making performance. More notably, he was dynamic in attack and linked up well with his teammates. The Colorado Rapids are very much an attack-first team these days, which should open up the channels well for the young American.

Colorado Rapids at Seattle Sounders Predictions and Odds

The oddsmakers have Seattle Sounders FC (-1) favored over the Colorado Rapids (+1), with a -120 for the Sounders and a +100 for the Rapids.