Montreal at Colorado
When: 4 p.m., Saturday
TV/Radio: Altitude, 1340 AM
Spotlight on Didier Drogba:
The 37-year-old from the Ivory Coast was acquired by Montreal as a designated player in July and has scored eight goals in eight games. He was named MLS player of the month in September. Drogba is No. 4 all time in goals for Chelsea FC with 164 in 381 games across all competitions. He won the English Premier League Golden Boot twice, and led the Blues to four Premier League titles, four FA Cup titles and three League Cup titles. Drogba also scored the tying and winning goals for Chelsea in the 2011-12 UEFA Champions League title game.
NOTEBOOK
Rapids:
Colorado (8-13-10) is winless in its last five games, and was eliminated from MLS playoff contention last weekend with a home loss to Real Salt Lake. The Rapids are 5-6-5 at home this season, the worst home record in MLS. The Rapids have only once failed to win at least six home games (2001). Colorado has never lost to Montreal, but will be without three of its top four goal-scorers — Kevin Doyle, Gabriel Torres and Dillon Serna — because of international call-ups. Maynor Figueroa is also on international duty.
Impact:
Montreal (12-13-6) lost its second consecutive game in a midweek road match against the New York Red Bulls. The Impact holds the sixth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 42 points in 31 games, with a game in hand. “Every game is a playoff game,” said Impact midfielder Patrice Bernier. “We have to go into Colorado and grind it out.” Argentine playmaker Ignacio Piatti has rejoined Montreal after missing three games because of family reasons.
Footnotes:
Rapids defender Michael Harrington is out for the season after surgery on his left foot last week for plantar fasciitis.
Daniel Boniface, The Denver Post
