COMMERCE CITY — For the first time in more than a calendar year, the Rapids have won back-to-back games — a mini-run that has coincided with a change in formation from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3.
With the switch, designated player Kevin Doyle has played in his natural center forward role rather than as a No. 10 underneath, pushing Luis Solignac out left and Vicente Sanchez out right.
“What we needed is just something a bit more definitive from the start,” Rapids coach Pablo Mastroeni said of the change, “which allows us to press the game higher, win the balls higher up the field, make the game more fast-paced, get our dynamic players on the ball in higher positions.”
GOT A QUESTION? .
Instead of a five-man midfield, it has featured a three-man midfield of Lucas Pittinari, Marcelo Sarvas and Sam Cronin. Those three have excelled at winning tackles and moving the ball quickly, Mastroeni said, allowing the outside backs to get upfield and join in the attack.
“It’s provided some energy, it’s provided some confidence,” said Rapids captain Drew Moor, who has played left back the last two games instead of his usual center back. “We have some mature guys in those attacking positions that are doing extremely well with it. It’s a formation where we have a lot of options.”
Mastroeni said the switch was a progression after seven months of work and hours of daily collaboration with the club’s technical staff.
With back-to-back league wins, the Rapids are taking an if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it approach to their starting 11, which means the odd man out at the moment appears to be Dillon Powers. He was one of the club’s most productive players through the first half of the season.
“I’m trying to be as consistent as possible and what we’ve been doing is working, so I’ve talked to Dillon,” Mastroeni said. “There’s times in your career where things are going well and you’re getting looks and you’re playing and you’re winning, and there’s times when there’s not. There’s adversity all along the way for all of us.”
Powers said the new formation has led to keeping possession more and building the attack from the back.
“We won two games and created a lot of chances so I think it’s a good thing,” Powers said of the 4-3-3.
One change will need to be made to the lineup as Mastroeni confirmed Tuesday that Solignac suffered a pulled hamstring that forced him from the Rapids’ 3-1 comeback win Saturday over Real Salt Lake. The injury will sideline him at least two weeks.
The likely candidates to fill in would be Charles Eloundou, who set up all three goals against RSL in 17 minutes of work, or designated player Juan Ramirez, who scored an empty-netter Saturday to seal the win.
The last-place Rapids (4-6-9) take on the first place Sounders (10-8-2) on Saturday in Seattle — a place they’ve never won.
Daniel Boniface: 303-954-1104, dboniface@denverpost.com or
