In the second game of a three-game stretch, San Diego is set to face a Colorado team that has yet to record a victory since their previous encounter. When SDFC traveled to Colorado, the game was messy and unorganized, kicking off a three-game losing streak. Since then, San Diego has clearly turned it around with an emphatic 5-0 win vs Dallas at home and a 2-1 win vs St. Louis on the road. They’ll be looking to continue that form on Wednesday night, during a mid-week clash with revenge implications on the line. As always, let’s get into it!
Short Rest, High Demand
The big question for this Wednesday’s match remains focused on fitness. It remains to be seen how guys in the starting 11 on Saturday recover. When Mikey Varas was asked on what he plans to do with the lineup, he said “If everyone recovers and is healthy then they’ll be playing”. Clearly, Varas is indicating that he plans to play the same 11 guys if he is able to.
This is the first time that SDFC has to play a mid-week game so it will be a new challenge of physicality. Chucky and Dreyer have been on an absolute tear lately and will most certainly be complimented with Alex Mighten as he is recovered from a shoulder injury and should be available to start.
Valuable Subs
Milan Ilosky has shown great form in the past two matches, but he remains a valuable weapon off the bench. Tomas Angel is another option Varas can turn to at any moment. He could see action in this game, especially after scoring against Colorado in their last meeting. Ema Boateng will be available as well. The veteran has fully recovered from injury and is an important piece of the puzzle if Mikey decides to rest Chucky or Dreyer at any point in the game.
Colorado’s Downtrend in Form
Since beating San Diego, Colorado has tied two and won two of their previous four matches. Despite having players who are dangerous up front, they’ve found it hard to score. In fact, Colorado currently ranks second to last in the league in shots on target percentage. Defensively, Colorado has struggled, with repeated mistakes by their backline consistently leading to goals conceded.
Across 12 matches, they’ve conceded 18 goals, averaging 1.5 goals against per game. Notably, their defense has been more vulnerable in the first half, allowing an average of 0.92 goals before halftime. Their clean sheet percentage stands at 25%, underscoring ongoing issues in defensive consistency.
The Rapids will look to the duo of Djordje Mihailovic and Rafa Navarro, who both lead the team with goals scored at 5 each. Darren Yapi has been a nice compliment for them up front, showcasing a knack for being in the right place at the right time.
Learning From the Past
San Diego had their chances to score and essentially win the game in Colorado. It was missed opportunities and lack of creativity that eventually led to a 3-2 loss. Since then, SDFC have improved in their chemistry. They are still at the top of the table for possession and passing percentage, along with Columbus Crew.
Passing out from the back has improved as well since the two teams last met. In that game, Colorado forced multiple mistakes and turnovers near the San Diego goal. Now, SDFC is playing a more cohesive, complete game, which they will be looking to put together against the Rapids.
Keys to the Game
San Diego FC will need to make the most of their scoring opportunities, especially given Colorado’s ongoing defensive struggles. With a backline prone to errors, capitalizing on those mistakes could be key. Additionally, Colorado has shown vulnerability against high pressing teams—a tactic SDFC effectively employed in the second half against St. Louis, forcing multiple turnovers and creating scoring chances.
Defensively, they’ll need to make it hard for Mihailovic and Navarro to link up in play. The two do a good job of making runs off of each other and playing quick one-two passes. Bombino and Willy have done well closing down strikers in the last two games and they’ll have a tough challenge awaiting them on Wednesday.
In May, SDFC is facing a number of opponents who are currently struggling. The key will be winning these matches and taking advantage of down trending teams. This is especially important before a tough middle of June, when San Diego will face Minnesota and Vancouver. This week, though, 1/3 of the challenges have been completed. How does SDFC respond to a short turn-around? Stay tuned for what promises to be an exciting, emotional battle on Wednesday.
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