Colorado Rapids are playing with a chance to clinch a playoff berth. With a win on the road against rival Sporting Kansas City, the Rapids could become the fifth team to secure a spot in the MLS Playoffs, joining Inter Miami, FC Cincinnati, Columbus Crew and L.A. Galaxy.
• Colorado wins at SKC AND
• FC Dallas loses or draws at Real Salt Lake AND
• Austin FC loses or draws at LAFC
On the other side of the fixture, SKC, currently on the outside looking through a rapidly-closing door in 12th place in the Western Conference, could be eliminated from playoff contention with elaborate scenarios.
• SKC loses vs. Colorado AND
• Portland wins or draws vs. LA AND
• Minnesota United wins vs. Cincinnati
Or:
• SKC draws vs. Colorado AND
• Portland wins vs. LA AND
• Minnesota wins vs Cincinnati
For Rapids coach Chris Armas, Wednesday’s game, which kicks off at Children’s Mercy Park at 6:30 p.m., is not as much about clinching a playoff berth as it is continuing to do the right things and weathering the test that his team’s I-70 rivals provide.
“We know they’re a very good team with a lot to play for and they’re always good at home,” Armas said. “I’ve known (SKC coach) Peter Vermes for a very long time and his teams are always prepared, they always fight, they always have good ideas and they can always put you in tough games in their building. We’re excited for that challenge and we want to really keep that momentum going that we’ve built in August, into September and into the playoff stretch.”
Earlier this season at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on July 4, a 2-1 win over SKC required midfielder Oliver Larraz’s first career MLS goal and a 90+4th minute penalty from midfielder Djordje Mihailovic to steal three points in come-from-behind fashion.
Though the Rapids would prefer to win more comfortably, there still needs to be a bit of improvement in the back line to keep from conceding, particularly on set pieces, according to defender Andreas Maxsø.
Against Portland last Saturday, the Rapids were caught sleeping on a corner kick in the 24th minute, and a flicked-on header found a wide-open David Ayala at the back post for a tap-in header to tie the game.