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Colorado’s best shot at a major sports championship this year—and since 2001—will come this Saturday night when the Rapids take on FC Dallas in the Major League Soccer Cup final. Colorado surged through the playoffs and then knocked off the San Jose Earthquakes last week 1-0 to land in the MLS title game in Toronto, Canada. There’s plenty of space on the team’s bandwagon, notes the Onion A.V. Club, which calls the Rapids “the neglected stepchild of Denver sports.”
Dallas, led by Colombian midfielder David Ferreira, also pulled off an upset to make it to the final, but Rapids’ coach Gary Smith thinks his squad is the real underdog, writes MLS.com. FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman, however, isn’t underestimating Colorado, telling The Denver Post, “I think they have probably, arguably, the best two strikers in the league. One [Conor Casey], big and strong, very courageous, with the first-to-the-ball mentality. The other is Omar Cummings, one of the fastest and most powerful players in the league.”
Jeff Carlisle of ESPN.com breaks down the final and says to expect a great game: “With both teams in search of their first-ever MLS crown, the opportunity is there for some gifted offensive players to become legends.” Colorado and Dallas tied in their previous two matches this season, but Carlisle is predicting a Dallas victory.