Good afternoon! The Red Bulls are back in action @The Dick, aka Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado. The mighty Colorado Rapids are their oponent, of course, and the Red Bulls are looking to extend a three match win streak, in MLS play. The Rapids are unbeaten in their last five MLS games (3-0-2) and will be looking to justify their annual fireworks display (after the game) by handing the Red Bulls a big, fat Red, White & Blue loss. The Red Bulls don't have history on their side, when playing on July 4th, so it will be a massive win, if they can get one today. They're actually confident of getting a result at altitude (if they can hold out for the first 20-30 minutes). So with all that in mind, let's get to some predictions.
Matt Conroy (aka Who Shot Sam) has this for us:
Another 4th of July, another trip out to Denver. Why oh why do the MLS schedule makers keep doing this to us? I'd much prefer a Sunday afternoon in May with 8,000 fans rattling around the Dick, but here we go again - playing the Rapids in front of a good-sized holiday crowd, most who have probably come for the fireworks.Wow! The great Who Shot Sam predicting a stunner today. I cannot be so bold and will have to predict a Red Bulls loss, let's say 2-0. The altitude, not to mention Conor Casey, is going to kill us and this will be another crap July 4th, as far as our team is concerned. Alrighty then!
Our recent record against Colorado is nothing to write home about. Conor Casey has made us his bitch in recent years and our last two visits to the Mile High City have resulted in 4-0 losses. On the other hand, this is not Juan Carlos Osorio's Red Bulls we're talking about (however much the loss to Harrisburg may make you think otherwise). I'm going to be insanely optimistic and predict a stunning 2-1 victory, with goals from Salou and Lindpere. Surely Backe won't let these guys lay another egg after their abject failure in the US Open Cup, right?
Homebrew Tim has this for us:
Tonight's match promises to be a true test for both teams. The Rapids are on a 5-game unbeaten streak in league play, while the Red Bulls are winners of three straight league matches. The Red Bulls are beginning of a pivotal stretch of road matches against Colorado, Columbus, Houston and Chicago. By the middle of August we're going to know a lot more about whether or not the Red Bulls are true contenders or not. Colorado is tough, and they have had our number of late. Getting out of there with our first draw of the season will be a successful result. Hopefully, Juan Pablo's MLS Player of the Week form is a sign that his legs benefited from the World Cup break, and he will be able to make the most of his opportunities. If he does, I expect a 2-2 draw. Goals from Angel and Lindpere; one of them off an assist from Dane Richards (yeah, you read that right.)Last, but not least, the great You Suck Corrales has this for us:
This game will be bad, very bad. Recently we have been getting our asses whipped there. My only hope is that we escape with a point. We have not tied a league match since last September. Maybe today is the day where this weird streak is broken. 18 league matches in all. 4 US Open Cup games and 3 friendlies and we have gone 25 games without a draw. What are the odds of that? So I am putting my hope the fact that sheer chance means that this streak will end and we will come home with the road point. That would not be a bad way to come out of the break. 2 away games and 4 points. Predicition: 1-1. Goal by JPA.Ok, that's it for now. Have a great 4th of July and Let's Go Red Bulls!
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