Dallas can secure their spot in the MLS Cup playoffs for a second successive campaign with a victory on Saturday at Toyota Stadium versus the Colorado Rapids.
Last weekend, the Toros overcame an early deficit, managing to claim a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes, putting them a point above Sporting Kansas City for the final playoff spot in the West, while Colorado saw a two-match domestic unbeaten run end, losing 5-1 against the Houston Dynamo.
Match preview
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It has been anything but a smooth ride for Nico Estevez and his Dallas side of late, winning only two of their last 12 league contests, but the job of making the post-season is nearly done.
With two matches remaining against the bottom two sides in the Western Conference (Colorado and the Los Angeles Galaxy), the Toros could not have asked for a better scenario regarding their post-season hopes, as they only need to win one of their final two games or have SKC lose their match on Decision Day to get into the playoffs.
They may very well be a playoff team by the end of matchday 34, but Dallas will have only just stumbled over that line, with 12 victories being the most they can claim by the end of the campaign, which would still be two fewer than their mark from a year ago.
It has not been pretty, but one thing this team have had in abundance in recent matches is resilience, coming back to earn at least a point in four of their previous five domestic encounters, with that other result being a 0-0 draw versus the Houston Dynamo.
The Toros have failed to emerge victorious in five MLS affairs this year when drawing first blood, resulting in a loss of 11 points, including a defeat to the Rapids the previous time those sides met in July (2-1).
One thing that has remained consistent throughout the tenure of Estevez as coach is the Toros' stringy play at the back, giving up the second-fewest goals in the Western Conference (35), two fewer than they allowed after 34 matches a year ago.
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Another Rapids season will end in disappointment as this team continue to take giant steps backwards, already assured of finishing dead last in the Western Conference this year.
The Burgundy Boys need a win from one of their final two encounters to avoid setting a new club record for the fewest points ever in a single regular season (28 in 2020), while a pair of defeats would mean they equal their lowest total for wins in a single regular season (five in 2001).
Before last weekend, interim manager Chris Little had been making a decent case to be named the full-time boss next year, with his side earning at least a point in three of his first five matches at the helm, though losing by four goals to Houston and registering just one shot on target might not help that case.
Perhaps the biggest positive for this group under Little has been the consistency they have shown in front of goal, with the Rapids scoring in every one of his matches in charge (six) after failing to net in 15 domestic games this year under Robin Fraser.
Not only have the Rapids lost more MLS road contests than anyone in the Western Conference this year (11), but the manner of some of those defeats has to sting even more, losing four times at least three goals.
Colorado have won consecutive matches against the Toros in MLS but have not claimed three points against them at Toyota Stadium since 2016 (1-0).
Team News
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Sebastian Lletget is unlikely to see the field for Dallas this weekend due to a hamstring strain, Tarik Scott has missed the entire season after undergoing LCL and ACL surgery, Geovane Jesus has an injured right knee, while Bernard Kamungo was named to the USA Under-23 squad for their friendlies in Phoenix.
Jader Obrian has scored in three successive home contests for the Toros, two of which were assisted by Dallas' leading goalscorer Jesus Ferreira, including his equaliser versus the Quakes last weekend.
Ferreira had a brace the last time they hosted the Rapids in this competition, with former midfielder Brandon Servania adding a goal and an assist in a 3-1 triumph.
The Burgundy Boys are likely to be without at least a handful of players for this encounter as William Yarbrough (knee surgery), Sidnei Tavares (illness), Jack Price (Achilles), Aboubacar Keita (lower body) and Alex Gersbach (adductor tendon surgery) all missed the match against the Dynamo through injury.
Diego Rubio is unavailable after being added to the Chile squad for the international window, Moise Bombito was named to the Canadian team, while Max was removed from team activities a while back because of alleged illegal gambling.
Cole Bassett notched his team-leading sixth goal of the season in their lopsided defeat versus Houston, Connor Ronan collected his 11th assist of the year, the most among Rapid players in 2023 and one shy of the mark Jack Price set in 2021, while Keegan Rosenberry recorded his 138th start last week, moving past Marvell Wynne for the fifth-most in club history.
Dallas possible starting lineup:
Paes; Twumasi, Ibeagha, Tafari, Farfan; Arriola, Pomykal, Illarramendi, Quignon; Obrian, Ferreira
Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:
Ilic; Rosenberry, Wilson, Maxso, Gutman; Ronan, Bassett; Galvan, Priso, Harris; Lewis
We say: Dallas 1-0 Colorado Rapids
A backline as well-organised as the Toros should not have difficulty containing a Rapids attack who have not created much during the run of play but have given up plenty of opportunities away from home in the attacking third.
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