Sporting KC v Colorado Rapids: Preview, Predictions & How to Watch

Sporting KC vs. Colorado Rapids

When: Saturday, April 8, 2023 at 7:30 PM CT

Where: Children’s Mercy Park

How to Watch/Stream: Apple MLS Season Pass (subscription required)

Seventh times a charm? That’s definitely an expression, right?

Sporting Kansas City enter matchday seven against the Colorado Rapids with both teams still searching for their first win of 2023. Sporting KC’s -5 goal differential is the only thing keeping them out of the Western Conference basement, currently occupied by the Rapids (who have a -6 GD). Both teams only have two goals through six matches and identical 0-3-3 records.

The clubs are sort of tied with Real Salt Lake and the LA Galaxy, who are also on three points, but they’ve only played five matches. It’s the same story out East with CF Montreal (who come to Kansas City later this month) having three points through five games as well.

KC and Colorado have already met once this season in a frigid 0-0 draw in Commerce City at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The good news for Kansas City is that they have been very good against the Rapids in recent seasons. They are 4-1-4 in their last nine meetings, including a 2-1 win over Colorado last May when Sporting were in terrible form. If they don’t win this game, it’ll be the second time in club history (1999) they started a season with no wins through seven games.

Colorado’s Recent Form

• March 4th vs. Sporting KC – 0-0 Draw
• March 11th @ San Jose Earthquakes – 0-1 Loss
• March 18th vs. Minnesota United – 1-2 Loss
• March 25th @ Austin FC – 1-1 Draw
• April 1st vs. LAFC – 0-0 Draw

Their only other game was a 4-0 season opening loss to the Seattle Sounders on the road.

What’s New in Colorado in 2023?

The Rapids have made a few moves, but none to really move the needle.

IN: They traded for former LA Galaxy Designated Player Kevin Cabral in a somewhat low risk, high reward move. Through six games, he’s yet to show he’s worth taking up the DP slot he occupies and its clear why LA moved on and ate his large transfer fee. The team added a DP center back in Andreas Maxsø via transfer from Brøndby (Denmark). The only other notable signing is Connor Ronan who played for Wolverhampton Wolves in the Premier League (England).

OUT: Former SKC man Felipe Gutierrez’s loan expired, and he’s since signed overseas. The team also let the loan of Brazilian fullback Lucas Esteves expire and he headed back to South America. They lost forward Gyasi Zardes to Austin FC as a free agent and didn’t re-sign keeper Clint Irwin.

Injury Report

Updated 4/8/23 for Colorado.

Sporting KC:

Sporting KC Injury Updates and Lineup Predictions v Colorado

Colorado:

OUT: Yaya Toure (right knee), Moise Bombito (left knee), Jack Price (Achilles)

QUESTIONABLE: Cole Bassett (left hamstring), Cole Bassett (left hamstring)

Stats

Sporting KC

Goals: Daniel Salloi, Willy Agada (1)

Assists: None

Colorado

Goals: Cole Bassett, Kevin Cabral (1)

Assists: Michael Barrios (2), Brian Acosta, Connor Ronan (1)

Predictions

Usually, I treat the past as prologue. If a team has done nothing to indicate they are capable of winning, I can’t choose them to win. That said, Sporting KC are inching towards being healthy and the Rapids have lost arguably their best player, Jake Price, for the entire season. The game is at home, where teams usually have quite the advantage.

That being said, Colorado feel like they are a team built to cause Sporting troubles. They have a roster full of speedy wingers that can get in behind the fullbacks that are too far up the field. Then again, they aren’t great at finishing their chances, even with Diego Rubio back in the lineup at center forward.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say Sporting KC finally find some sort of offensive rhythm and beat a bad team at home. If they can’t do that, then maybe it is time to hit the panic button.

PREDICTION: 2-0 Sporting KC Win