When: 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City
TV/Radio: Altitude/950 AM
Spotlight on Jermaine Jones
The Rapids’ 34-year-old midfielder finally appears ready to return Sunday against the Houston Dynamo. The U.S. international has not played since suffering a knee injury July 4, a span that saw him miss 16 league games. This week, than initially reported, as his lateral collateral ligament was ripped almost completely off the bone. In eight games with the Rapids this year, Jones has scored three goals and added two assists, playing the No. 10 role. Jones said he hopes to get “some minutes” against Houston in preparation for the Rapids’ first playoff game next weekend.
NOTEBOOK
Rapids: In the final game of the regular season, Colorado (15-6-12, 57 points) has a chance to claim the Supporters’ Shield for the best record in MLS with a win and an FC Dallas loss at the Los Angeles Galaxy. Last weekend, the and slipped to second place in the Shield race. Colorado can become the fifth team in league history to go an entire season without losing a home game (11-0-5), and could tie the league record for most home points in a season (41) with a win. Colorado could also become the ninth team in MLS history to concede less than one goal per game over the course of an entire season, if it allows two goals or fewer. Colorado leads MLS in shutouts (13) and has only conceded six goals at home this season.
Dynamo: Houston (7-14-12, 33 points) enters the match in last place in the Western Conference, riding a four-game winless streak. The Dynamo last weekend lost at home 1-0 to the Galaxy. It was the second consecutive match Houston was shut out, and it has not scored in 189 minutes. However, Houston has been dangerous on the road lately, unbeaten in its last four road games, including handing Real Salt Lake a loss at Rio Tinto Stadium on Sept. 17, spoiling RSL’s unbeaten home form.
Footnotes: This is the second meeting between these teams this year. Colorado beat Houston 3-2 at BBVA Compass Stadium on Oct. 8. The Rapids are 9-8-6 all-time against the Dynamo, and 7-3-2 against them at home.
