Both teams will be looking for their first win of the season when Colorado Rapids host Nashville SC in MLS on Saturday.
Colorado were beaten by Portland Timbers last weekend, while Nashville drew against New York Red Bulls.
Match preview
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Having failed to qualify for the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, Colorado have unsurprisingly gone in a new managerial direction in the form of Chris Armas, who has previously worked as the head coach at New York Red Bulls and Toronto.
Armas, who won the MLS Cup with Chicago Fire during his playing career, guided New York Red Bulls to first place in the regular season in his first-ever season as a head coach, but he has struggled to recapture those heights since and will be hoping to rebuild his career in Colorado.
However, the Rapids began in disastrous fashion under their new boss when they were thrashed 4-1 by Portland at Providence Park. The hosts raced into a four-goal lead by half time, converting all three of their shots on target during the encounter before Samuel Vines's own goal, with Calvin Harris's second-half strike proving to be nothing more than a consolation goal.
Only Armas's former club Toronto earned fewer points than Colorado in MLS last season, so the 51-year-old will be under no illusions regarding the scale of the task in front of him. They have plenty of time to turn things around, though, and will be hoping to kick-start their campaign this weekend.
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Nashville, on the other hand, have reached the playoffs in each of their four MLS seasons since joining the league as an expansion team in 2020. However, after reaching three successive quarter-finals, they crashed out to Los Angeles Galaxy in the first round last time out.
Gary Smith, who famously masterminded Colorado Rapids' only ever MLS Cup triumph in 2010, has been in charge of Nashville since April 2017. This included finishing second in the regular USL season in 2019, before they moved up to MLS.
Smith would have been content with his side holding New York Red Bulls to a 0-0 draw at Geodis Park last weekend, especially as the visitors were the stronger side across the course of the encounter. Nashville only mustered five efforts compared to the Red Bulls' tally of 18, with Joe Willis forced into five saves.
The Boys in Gold certainly found their shooting boots in midweek when thrashing Dominican Republic side Moca 4-0 in the second leg of their first round CONCACAF Champions Cup tie, sealing a 7-0 aggregate victory for them and comfortable progression to the next stage.
Ultimately, Smith and his players will be desperate to be involved at the business end of the campaign once again, as they attempt to win the MLS Cup for the first time in the club's history. But there is a long road ahead for them, not least when making a lengthy trip from Tennessee to Denver this weekend.
Team News
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Colorado will remain without Daniel Chacon due to a cruciate ligament tear, with the centre-back unlikely to be rushed back into action given the seriousness of that injury. Otherwise, Armas appears to have a clean bill of health at his disposal.
That may prompt the 66-capped United States international to make some changes after their nightmare first half away to Portland in their opening game, with Jonathan Lewis one of several players hoping to earn a starting spot.
Nashville, meanwhile, will travel without Ben Martino and Randall Leal due to hip issues, while Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar are both doubtful after missing the stalemate against New York Red Bulls due to minor niggles.
Should those two forwards miss out once again as expected, Smith may be struggling for quality alternatives as he attempts to increase his side's offensive fluidity, while club captain Walker Zimmerman may have to settle for a spot on the bench once again after his starting teammates kept a clean sheet in their opening match.
Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:
Steffen; Rosenberry, Bombito, Maxso, Vines; Ronan, Larraz; Harris, Mihailovic, Lewis; Navarro
Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Moore, MacNaughton, Maher, Washington; Yearwood, Davis, Muyl; Boyd, Bunbury, Shaffelburg
We say: Colorado Rapids 1-1 Nashville SC
Colorado's new era under Armas began in catastrophic fashion when trailing 4-0 at half time in their opening match, while Nashville showed their usual grit under Smith to claim a point despite being the inferior side.
The visitors are lacking offensive quality due to injuries at the moment and may be content to escape Colorado with another point to their name, and we do not think that the host would mind that outcome either as they look to settle under their new head coach.
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Brett Curtis
