COLORADO RAPIDS will be aiming to maintain their recent home form as they host Sporting Kansas in a Western Conference MLS fixture. Colorado have done some good work at home and will be confident of seeing off Kansas, who have been poor travelers lately.
Colorado Rapids are coming off a 3-0 defeat to LA Galaxy in their previous MLS fixture. Manager Chris Armas will consider that result a minor blip having won their previous three matches, and will be confident of making a swift return to winning ways.
Having been on the road last time out, Colorado Rapids are returning home where they are unbeaten in six of their last seven matches. They have picked up five wins in that run, including a 4-1 thrashing of Montreal in their previous fixture in front of their fans.
Sporting Kansas were victorious last time out in the MLS as they triumphed 2-0 over Austin. Goals in each half from Tim Leibold and Stephen Afrifa were enough to give them all three points.
That was a vital win as it ended a run of three straight defeats for Peter Vermes’ men, who have not been at their best lately. Things have been much worse on the road as they have lost their last seven MLS away matches and were beaten 4-0 by Columbus Crew in their previous fixture on the road.
How the bookies view it: Comfortable outing for Colorado
Colorado Rapids have been installed as overwhelming favourites among the bookies with a home win priced at 8/15 by Betfred. An unlikely victory for Sporting Kansas is priced at 4/1 while Betfred is also offering odds of 3/1 for a draw.
Head to head: Kansas on top
Sporting Kansas have a 34-30 advantage with 22 draws from 86 previous matches against Colorado Rapids. However, Colorado claimed a 1-0 victory in the last meeting back in April 2023.
Players to watch: No answers for Mihailovic
Djordje Mihailovic has been one of the standout players for Colorado Rapids this season, with nine MLS goals so far. The forward has also been on target four times in the last three in the last four matches and is priced at 6/4 by Betfred to maintain his scoring run.
Sporting Kansas have kept clean sheets in four of the last five meetings with Colorado and will be targeting a similar outcome on Friday. Alhassan Abubakar and Andreas Maxso should feature in central defence and can lead the hosts to another clean sheet at 13/8 with Betfred.
Probable line-ups
Colorado Rapids will be without Kevin Cabral, who is suspended after being shown a red card last time out. Rafael Navarro and Djordje Mihailovic are expected to lead the line for the hosts once again.
Sporting Kansas will be keen to recapture the performance against Austin and might stick with the same team. However, Stephen Afrifa is pushing for a start after scoring off the bench in the previous fixture.
Colorado Rapids: Steffen, Rosenberry, Abubakar, Maxso, Vines, Ronan, Basset, Harris, Mihailovic, Fernandez, Navarro
Sporting Kansas: Melia, Leibold, Voloder, Rosero, Pierre, Thommy, Radoja, Davis, Afrifa, Russell, Pulido
Anything else catch the eye?
Having kept clean sheets in four of the last five meetings with Sporting Kansas, Colorado Rapids could be backed to earn a win to nil at 2/1 by Betfred. The hosts scored four goals in their previous home fixture and could be backed in the -1 handicap market at 6/4 with Betfred.
Colorado Rapids are likely to be dominant on Friday and could be tipped to win both halves at 11/4 by Betfred.
This MLS match between Colorado Rapids and Sporting Kansas will be played on Jul 5, 2024 and kick off at 02:30. Check below for our tipsters best Colorado Rapids vs Sporting Kansas prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
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