FC Dallas Prepares for Challenge Against Colorado Rapids
Samuel Sarver exudes confidence as he leads visiting FC Dallas into a match against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday in Commerce City, Colo. The 23-year-old forward scored for the third time in four matches during a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on May 16. Sarver came off the bench in the 84th minute and netted the decisive goal in the third minute of second-half stoppage time, securing Dallas’s first win at San Jose since July 8, 2016.
“I think we are the best team in the league,” Sarver shared on the Ultimate Dallas Sports Show. “We can hang with anyone. We’re not going to shy away from any challenge.”
FC Dallas currently holds a record of 6-4-4, earning 22 points and sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference standings. The team has shown dominance with a 3-0-0 record when Sarver scores. In the recent win, Patrickson Delgado and Petar Musa also contributed goals.
Musa is tied for second in MLS with 12 goals and was recently named to Croatia’s 26-man World Cup roster. “We have the best players in the league and the best striker (Musa),” Sarver noted. “We have the best center back in Osaze (Urhoghide). Last year, there were some growing pains for our head coach, but now that we have the pieces to the puzzle, you can see that the results are flowing.”
The Colorado Rapids, on the other hand, are experiencing their own set of challenges with a young roster that ranks as the second youngest in MLS, averaging 23.8 years old, just slightly older than the New York Red Bulls at 23.7.
“There are consequences to being a young team,” stated Colorado coach Matt Wells. “We’re learning resilience and how to respond to success or setbacks.”
In their last outing, the Rapids fell 2-1 to their Rocky Mountain Cup rival Real Salt Lake in Sandy, Utah. With a record of 5-8-1 and 16 points, Colorado has dropped to 11th in the Western Conference. Despite this slump, Wells has noticed improvements in their ability to convert on set pieces, highlighted by Wayne Frederick scoring off a corner kick against Salt Lake.
“We started the season very well (on set pieces) but then have had a real drop off in recent games, in tight games where we really needed it,” Wells commented.
This match marks the final game for both teams before the MLS takes a break for the World Cup, with action resuming on July 22.