MLS preview: Resurgent Colorado Rapids visit FC Cincinnati, TQL Stadium

The idea of a matchup with Colorado Rapids probably doesn't strike fear in the average Major League Soccer fan yet, but it probably should.

After finishing first in the Western Conference in 2021, the Rapids tumbled down the MLS standings with just 16 wins over the next two years. In 2023, the Rapids won just five times and, in a complete reversal of their 2021 success, finished last in the west.

But new life was breathed into the Rapids organization this past offseason. Chris Armas, a former New York Red Bulls head coach who had a stint as Manchester United FC assistant coach in the interim, was appointed the manager. The club also made splashes in the transfer market. Đorđe Mihailović, the former Chicago Fire product who went abroad to continue his career, arrived in Colorado. So did Sam Vines, who arrived from Royal Antwerp FC of the Belgian Pro League.

Perhaps most notable at the time was the acquisition or now-former Columbus Crew and Manchester City FC goalkeeper, Zach Stefan. The U.S. men's national team player came to Colorado on a free transfer.

As ever, the end-product of all Colorado's offseason work has so far yielded varying results on the individual level. Collectively, though, the Rapids have been formidable early in the 2024 regular season, posting the same 4-2-3 record and 15-point haul that FC Cincinnati has.

That makes the meeting between Colorado and Cincinnati on Saturday at TQL Stadium (7:30 p.m.) one of the week's more intriguing matchups in Major League Soccer. FCC, now an established power in the league as the defending Supporters' Shield winners, hosts a renewed, upstart Rapids side looking to make another strong, early season statement.

"I think Chris has done a very good job with the group early on," FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan said during a Thursday interview. "There's new faces, not always easy getting everybody on the same page early on. But a strong start, especially, you know, in the last four games . . . And I think in just watching the games and looking at them a little bit closer, defensively I think they continue to get better. Organized, they do a good job of staying compact and different ways of going to the ball in different areas of the field, but organized. And then with the ball, there's been a balance of the ball on the ground, the ball you know, direct, I think in the moments that it goes direct it's because they have a willing number nine in (Rafael) Navarro that challenges, uses his body well.

"Mihailovic, the way he operates underneath and gets on the ball, he reads plays well, obviously a very smart player. And then the last few games with (Kévin) Cabral and (Calvin) Harris primarily as the wingers, two guys with pace that know how to stretch the game that give them an option to threaten behind. So, (they're) effective with the direct play, but they also have players that can move the ball on the ground. So being able to deal with both of those things I think will be important for us. It's a good challenge, but there's certainly a team moving in a positive direction."

Colorado is unbeaten in its last four matches (3-0-1), with the lone draw coming against Eastern Conference-leading Inter Miami CF.

FC Cincinnati used a second-half comeback to down Atlanta United, 2-1, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium last weekend. The win snapped a two-match losing skid but was quickly overshadowed before the weekend ended because of the acquisition of forward Kevin Kelsy from Ukrainian top-flight side, Shakhtar Donetsk.

Kelsy is awaiting confirmation of his P-1 visa, though, so for all the headlines his arrival garnered, he won't play for Cincinnati yet.

FCC is making most of its progress results-wise on the road, where it has posted a 3-1-1 record. After winning 13 matches at TQL Stadium in 2023 and losing just twice, and one of those games was a dead-rubber match after Cincinnati clinched the Supporters' Shield and had nothing further to achieve in the standings, the 1-1-2 record so far in 2024 has fallen short of the "fortress" standard that was set last year.

"We know we haven't been, I would say, good enough at home," Noonan said. "We were very consistent in results last year, and I think we were also consistent in performances and that hasn't been the case early on. You know, you can make a lot of excuses about why early on with being a part of Champions Cup, but the reality is we had strong groups out on the field and I think enough recovery to be better than we were.

"So, we're still looking for better performances at home, hopefully on the back end of a good Atlanta performance where, you know, like I said, I think we did a lot of things better that we're looking for in our group. If we can see that type of performance at home with your fans, that would certainly position us to go and get a result. And hopefully, you know, reward the fans for their continued support, because you don't want to just win in front of your fans, you want to do it in ways that make the game entertaining and bring them to life. So that's still something we can do better."

FC Cincinnati's goalkeeping decision

FC Cincinnati will have a decision to make at the goalkeeper position this week after Roman Celentano (ankle) returned to practice following the injury he sustained March 30 against Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium. Evan Louro and Alec Kann split the starts in the matches since then, and Kann is the hot hand at the moment after his strong performance in the win against Atlanta.

If any concerns about Celentano's fitness and timing remain, Kann would be a solid option to make a further start before Celentano reclaims the starting job, which most expect he will.

"I have a tough decision to make," Noonan said of his goalkeepers. "(Roman has) been really good. He's had full days with the group in the last couple of days, (Wednesday) being a more intense day and more for the keepers in terms of seeing actions. And that was another box to check for Roman. And so he looked he looked really strong, and the entire goalkeeping crew was really strong (Wednesday). So, a good position but you know, he's back full and looking better each day."

The game

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. | TQL Stadium, Cincinnati

Broadcast: Apple TV

All-time series: Colorado Rapids lead the all-time series against FC Cincinnati with a 2-1-0 record.

Cincinnati.com prediction: FC Cincinnati 1, Colorado Rapids 0.

FC Cincinnati

Record (MLS): 4-2-3, 15 points; third place in Eastern Conference

Goals for: 10.

Goals against: Eight.

Head coach: Pat Noonan, third season as head coach.

Projected starting XI: Alec Kann, goalkeeper; Luca Orellano, left wing back; Ian Murphy, center back; Matt Miazga, center back; Miles Robinson, center back; DeAndre Yedlin, right wing back; Obinna Nwobodo, midfielder; Yuya Kubo, midfielder; Luciano Acosta, midfielder; Corey Baird, forward; Aaron Boupendza, forward.

Colorado Rapids

Regular season record: 4-2-3, 15 points; tied for third place in Western Conference

Goals for: 15

Goals against: 13

Head coach: Chris Armas, first season as Colorado head coach

Projected starting lineup: Zack Steffen, goalkeeper; Keegan Rosenberry, right back; Moïse Bombito, center back; Andreas Maxsø, center back; Sam Vines, left back; Oliver Larraz, midfielder; Cole Bassett, midfielder; Calvin Harris, winger; Đorđe Mihailović, midfielder; Kévin Cabral, winger; Rafael Navarro, forward.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: MLS 2024: Resurgent Colorado Rapids visit FC Cincinnati, TQL Stadium