Midweek Kick: Prepare for Colorado to utilize the long ball a lot Thursday

With lots going on this midweek, we're getting a little jump on the preview...

Admit it: when the 2019 Major League Soccer schedule came out back in February, you penciled Thursday, July 4 into your datebook as a Must Watch soccer game for the Revolution. After all, it’s the Colorado Rapids. And sure, it was on the road in Commerce City, at elevation, and that poses problems of their own.

But I repeat … it’s the Rapids. A bottom-feeder team with bottom-feeder players — to paraphrase from Anthony Hudson, natch — on the national holiday, and you root for a team alluding to the fact that our general region got the Revolutionary War started.

And when the season started so poorly for Colorado — the Rapids couldn’t get out of their own way, two points out of their first nine before Hudson found himself jettisoned, replaced by Conor Casey — you figured that even with all the Revs’ problems, regardless of altitude, they could solve whatever issues they had and put a hurting on them.

The Casey Era in the Denver area started out slow, with two losses in his first two. Yet something happened, the switch flipped on, and since May 19, the Rapids have not tasted defeat in seven outings — 5-0-2 — leading into Thursday night’s soiree with New England (9 p.m.).

That tighten y’all up a little bit?

For the preview of midweek soccer, subscribe and read on.

Of course, the Revs are on a little streak of their own since making a switch in the technical area — and in the front office — since May 11. That’s 3-0-3 in the last six league games, plus a nifty 4-0-2 season mark against Western Conference teams headed into Thursday’s game against — lo and behold — another West opponent.

That’s something that should tighten Rapids fans up a little, too.

Colorado is a team that can do either of two things: bunker in and absorb all the pressure an opposing offense can throw at it — much like it did in its 1-0 win over West leaders LAFC last Friday night — or can be a team that’s looking to stretch defenses with its attacking play. The latter was clearly evident back on June 1, when the Rapids hosted FC Cincinnati and beat the Orange and Blue, 3-1.

Against FCC, Colorado utilized long ball after long ball, Italy style, to get the ball from the defending third to the attacking third, mainly looking to pick out former Revs striker Kei Kamara time and again. With his height, it should be easy to do that.

Yet there is more to the Rapids’ attack than just our old pal Kei. Take a look at left winger — and Colorado first-round SuperDraft selection — Andre Shinyashiki, who has four goals through 19 games. As we wrote back in January, he’s pretty darn good in 1-v-1 situations and can dance into the attacking penalty area with ease. He has a burst of pace, and we’ve taken note that everything the Rapids do in the attacking third — when not overcome by long ball overuse — goes through him; he’s the first passing option, and he distributes from there. He’s solid on the ball, can create space, and is dangerous with either foot.

And he can track back to defend, too. Such a gifted player that the Revolution defense will need to be mindful of Thursday night.

Over on the other side is Sam Nicholson, who has pace and a good right foot. If there’s anything we can knock him for, is that he’s too patient at times.

And with options off the bench in Diego Rubio — part of the December three-way trade for Kelyn Rowe and Edgar Castillo — and Nicolás Mezquida, options that can do damage, the Revs will have to counter with smart substitutions.

Defensively, they can bunker in, and we all know how the Revolution this season — prior to Brad Friedel’s ousting — have had difficulty in breaking down teams that bunker in. New England will need patience, or blister them on the counter, as I’ve noticed the Rapids do have difficulty in slowing players with bursts of acceleration and pace.

If there are any knocks to this team, it’s that they have the tendency to turn the ball over quite a bit in the midfield. And with all of the long balls, the Revolution will have to work hard to win the second ball — quite possibly will see Wilfried Zahibo, thanks to his height? — to send play the other way again.

Another thing that vexed me watching film on Colorado? The fact they do not press with teams that start all the way in the back. They will, however, throw up a high line of contention — but it’s all for show.

And of course, Timmy Howard guarding the onion bag. ‘Nuff said.

Also taking place at midweek...

Wednesday will see NYCFC hosting Seattle in the Bronx, while Orlando hosts Philadelphia, Chicago hosts Atlanta United, Minnesota United hosts San Jose in a Western Conference clash, Sporting Kansas City hosts LAFC, Houston hosts the Red Bulls, and Real Salt Lake hosts Columbus. Revs supporters are looking for Philadelphia and Atlanta wins.

On Thursday, FC Dallas hosts DC United, and LA Galaxy hosts Toronto, which currently sits seventh in the East. A Galaxy win would be marvy.

There are nine games taking place at the weekend.

But that’s not all that’s happening this midweek, as it’s the semifinals for the Women’s World Cup, the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and Copa América.

Women’s World Cup

USA vs England, 3 p.m. Tuesday

England has utilized a 4-3-3 that can sink into a 4-2-3-1 defensively. In addition, watch out for the Lionesses’ use of the width.

Sweden vs. The Netherlands, 3 p.m. Wednesday

Final is Sunday, 11 a.m. ET. The third-place game is 11 a.m. Saturday.

Copa América

Brazil vs. Argentina, 8:30 p.m. ET Tuesday

Chile vs. Peru, 8:30 p.m. Wednesday

Final is Sunday, 4 p.m. ET

CONCACAF Gold Cup

Mexico vs Haiti, 10:30 p.m. ET Tuesday

USA vs. Jamaica, 9:30 p.m. ET Wednesday

From what I heard, the US did not play well against Curaçao, and will need to play better football against the Reggae Boyz in order to advance to Sunday’s title game.

And seriously, applaud Curaçao. We’ll be interested in seeing how it fares in World Cup qualifying for 2022.

The Gold Cup Final is Sunday at 9 p.m. ET.