As Sporting Kansas City returns home to Sporting Park to take on Western Conference side Colorado on Saturday, I caught up with Rapids' broadcaster Marcelo Balboa to preview the game. The match will be broadcast on KMCI (38 The Spot), SKCTV, Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM pregame television coverage beginning at 7:00 p.m. and kickoff at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Jonathon Feyerherm: What is Colorado's form heading into this weekend's match?
Marcelo Balboa: I think you've got to look at Colorado's season right now and just say it's been full of ties. They can't find that scoring itch and keep it. It's been good soccer. They've been knocking it around and they're an aggressive team and one that will fight for 90 minutes like you saw last week against San Jose, but they're lacking that finish. They create chances but they just can't put a game away and that's what's been hurting them. Especially if you looked at the San Jose game; hitting off the post, Eloundou in the box by the penalty spot put it over the top. Every club's always looking for that classic goalscorer who can score 20 goals a season.
JF: On the other end, Colorado's defense has conceded only nine goals in 10 matches.
MB: The Rapids' defense been fairly solid and you've got to give them credit. For the rotation, they've had quite a bit with Shane O'Neill in and out of the lineup and we've seen Sjoberg in there. We've seen a lot of rotation in there and they've been pretty consistent but you look at the last two goals they've given up on two set pieces. I think that's a concern for Colorado right now because of the fact they gave one up against LA and did the same thing against San Jose. Defensively, they've been pretty solid and now it's just the details of taking responsibility for your guy on set pieces.
JF: What are your thoughts on Sporting KC?
MB: Sporting KC has been one of the top teams in MLS. That's something we've seen the last few years the way they've played a unique style with the three in the midfield. They've got guys like Benny Feilhaber, Matt Besler, Graham Zusi, and so many quality players on that team. They've been one of those teams that's fighting every year for a championship and I don't see it any different this year. Not all the teams are going to start out of the cannon like the New York Red Bulls but Peter is slow and steady. Peter is forming this team again to get back into the style he wants to play and the aggressiveness he wants to play. Again, Sporting KC will be a threat at the end of the year fighting for a championship.
JF: After about two months into the season, what are your thoughts on the Western Conference?
MB: First of all, the West was strong already and then you happen to throw in Sporting Kansas City and Houston. It's made it an even tougher conference. I think it's going to take more points to get into the playoffs than in the East because you've got two former MLS Cup Champions (SKC, HOU) coming into the Western Conference, but I like it. One, we've (Colorado) always had a rivalry with Kansas City back in the old days and it's nice to rejuvenate that. Also with Houston, it's a tough place to play with the humidity and a team that's stating to figure it out with a new coach. It's definitely a very tough Conference and I think it makes it exciting for all the teams in the West because it's going to be close all the way to the end. I don't see anybody dropping off too far from the pack.
JF: What are you looking forward to seeing in Saturday's match?
MB: I'm curious to see if the two teams are willing to open up and go at each other. Two teams that really want to win and have a lot of offensive push but will they sit back or will they push the game, similar to what happened in Sporting KC's 4-4 draw at Houston. I think both these teams have that kind of firepower and I hope they both open up and really go at each other.
