Ahead of tonight''s match (8:00 p.m. CT) at Colorado, SportingKC.com caught up with Rapids broadcaster Richard Fleming to preview the Western Conference clash.
What's been some of the keys to Colorado's strong start this season?
It's a number of issues really. Kevin Doyle is into his first full season with the club, having a full preseason, and a then you bring the quality of someone like Jermaine Jones. I think Marco Pappa was vital early on, he's injured at the moment, and Shkelzen Gashi. The one area the Rapids struggles in 2015 is goals scored. They were the lowest scorers in Major League Soccer and they had plenty of opportunities, shots, and shots on goal but lacked that clinical edge in front of goal. What they've done now is created balance throughout this side. Last season they weren't conceding too many until the latter stages of the regular season when they were having to be aggressive to play catch-up.
This year, teams realize that this a team that can hurt you at the other end. They have that balance, grit, and quality in the side. That's made the difference this year, having greater balance from back to front.
What's been the impact from Jermaine Jones since joining the Rapids?
Anybody who's seen Jermaine Jones for the USMNT will know that he's a guy just in stature is big and he commands respect. He's not afraid to be the villian and shoulder that element of responsibility to be the guy that carries the punches, metaphorically speaking. There have been players that have come into MLS in the past that stand out as quality players and individuals but they don't necessarily make the players around them better. I think Jermaine Jones does. He's a quality player and he expects better and higher standards of those around him. He's elevated the players around him by five, six, seven percent and that is telling. I think on a number of levels Jermaine Jones has impacted this side. Even before he was playing, you saw him out on the training field and at some club functions and you saw an alpha male that players looked to him as their leader. He's been absolutely one of the factors for the Rapids success.
What did you take away from the meeting between these two sides last month (Rapids 2-1 win at Children's Mercy Park)?
It was a big shock because the Rapids were hanging on at 1-0, when Dom Dwyer came on (as second half substitute). He's been a thorn in the Rapids side and many other teams over the last few years. When he came on and scored that wonderful goal, the momentum shifted. I was saying on the call if Sporting KC can get a goal back here, you can only see one winner and I assumed that would be Sporting KC. The Rapids had put such a shift to that point that they were clinging on but then Dillon Serna with the shot off the bar and Shkelzen Gashi with the follow-up. I lost count of the times the ball hit the post or the woodwork of the Rapids' goal. They were living something of a charmed life in the match. This game is all about margins and since that match the Rapids have gone on an unbeaten run with four wins and one draw and Sporting KC haven't won any, including that match.
What are some things you'll be looking forward to seeing from Wednesday's match?
I'm expecting a reaction from Sporting KC. At some point, something's going to fall their way. Something's going to click. Games historically between these two sides, and I know they've been in difference conferences recently until 2015, there's a lot of rivalry between these two teams. There's a lot of experience on the field and will be for Wednesday's match. This is a game between the wounded animal in Sporting KC and the side full of confidence in Colorado. But as we know in sport, it can be a very fickle thing. It only takes one error or one slice of quality, and there's enough quality on both teams, for this game to be another great spectacle. The games in recent times have been tight affairs. I remember the last time Sporting KC won were here. It was a real back and forth game when the Rapids had two penalties and Dom Dwyer score in stoppage time for a 3-2 win. It was a tremendous goal. Then there's been the 2-1s and the back and forth matches in 2015. The games in recent times have been tight affairs. The Rapids have the upper hand here in Colorado but at some point there's far too much quality in Sporting KC's side for them to be on this run for too much longer. Dom Dwyer is one goal shy of 50 in all competitions and Peter Vermes is one win short of 100 in MLS as a head coach. These are milestones that you don't get to the brink of without being a good coach and a good player and a good team. These are a moments that every team goes through, some earlier than others, and I know that Peter Vermes will have his side well up for this contest. He'll have his guys well primed and maybe there is the added incentive that this is a Rapids side that have won five of five at home. There's always that little bit of professional added incentive of being that team that ends that run, whether it be a tie and getting a precious point on the road or beating the Rapids in their own backyard for the first time this season. There's enough quality on both sides that I'm expecting a tight contest and a good game on Wednesday.
