New England Revolution vs. Colorado Rapids | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

New England Revolution vs. Colorado Rapids
2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 2
Gillette Stadium - Foxborough
1:30 pm ET – March 10, 2018
WATCH: MLS LIVE

The New England Revolution lost both starting center backs to red cards and then dropped their league opener to the Philadelphia Union, and while coach Brad Friedel will dip into his depth to fill the void left by Antonio Mlinar Delamea and Claude Dielna, the Revs will be buoyed by a return to Gillette Stadium, where they have been especially stingy over the years.

The Anthony Hudson era started in the Concacaf Champions League, where the Colorado Rapids lost 2-0 on aggregate to Toronto FC in the Round of 16, but the former New Zealand national team boss will make his MLS coaching debut following a Week 1 bye. It comes at a venue that hasn’t been kind to the Rapids, who last won in Foxborough in 2010.

New England Revolution

The Brad Friedel era started rather inauspiciously, with the nine-man Revs falling to the Union, 2-0, at Talen Energy Stadium to open the 2018 season, which extended New England’s winless streak in season openers to six.

Delamea was shown a straight red card following Video Review for denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity in the 24th minute, while Dielna was given his marching orders four minutes from full time for his second bookable offense. Who fills the void? Jalil Anibaba has the most experience at center back and he slotted in there when Delamea was sent off. And Brandon Bye could earn his first start after making his debut off the substitute’s bench Saturday.

Suspended: Anthony Mlinar Delamea, Claude Dielna
Suspended after next caution: None
Injury Report: OUT: M - Isaac Angking (illness); QUESTIONABLE: M - Zachary Herivaux (ankle)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Matt Turner — Andrew Farrell, Jalil Anibaba, Brandon Bye, Gabriel Somi — Scott Caldwell, Wilfried Zahibo — Teal Bunbury, Diego Fagundez, Cristian Penilla — Juan Agudelo

Notes: The Revs were unbeaten in their last eight home games last season (7W-0L-1D). It was their longest unbeaten streak at home in 2017. .. New England had five red cards in 2017 and have already accumulated two in their first game of 2018.

Colorado Rapids

Hudson made waves when he suggested the Rapids 2-0 loss on aggregate to Toronto FC in the CCL was still part of his team’s preseason. Wherever you land on that debate, the fact remains Colorado showed well, especially defensively in a scoreless draw in the second leg at BMO Field.

While Hudson believes his team earned respect for their performance in Toronto, he now looks for a first win against a shorthanded Revs side after the Rapids had a Week 1 bye. The weekend off allowed Hudson to sit back and get a taste of what MLS is about and take a very close look at New England (though it is no doubt a tricky sample size because of the red cards).

Suspended: Axel Sjoberg
Suspended after next caution: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Kortne Ford (left MCL sprain)

Projected Starting XI
(3-5-2 right to left)
GK: Tim Howard — Eric Miller, Danny Wilson, Tommy Smith — Marlon Hairston, Enzo Martinez, Jack Price, Edgar Castillo, Deklan Wynne — Jack McBean, Dominique Badji

Notes: Colorado scored just seven goals on the road last season, tied for second-fewest in an MLS season since 2010. … Dominique Badji had a combined 15 goals and assists last season for the Rapids. No other player had more than nine.

All-Time Series

Overall: Revolution 15 wins, 59 goals … Rapids 20 wins, 67 goals … Ties 9
At New England: Revolution 11 wins, 40 goals … Rapids 6 wins, 28 goals … Ties 5
Last meeting at New England: New England Revolution 2, Colorado Rapids 0 (Sept. 3, 2016)