COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – This weekend features a Colorado Rapids and Kellyn Acosta rematch with FC Dallas, his former club.
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“I’m definitely excited. It’s always a bittersweet feeling playing against you’re old club. That’s how the game goes. I’m here in Colorado. I’m happy here. No hard feelings. Friends off the field, but I’m here to compete,” Acosta told Last Word on Soccer.
Acosta started in the academy at FC Dallas and left the club in the middle of last year after wanting more playing time and a chance to take bigger role. That landed him with a struggling Colorado Rapids side under the now departed manager Anthony Hudson.
The midfielder got settled in quickly and became a box-to-box force for the club in the midfield alongside Jack Price. On the final day of the season, Acosta and the Rapids defeated FC Dallas at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, setting his boyhood club up to lose in the first round of the playoffs.
Fast forward a year, and Colorado has won all but one game since new head coach Robin Fraser took the job. Acosta is again playing well and the Burgundy Boys have yet to be eliminated from playoff contention. This despite many, including this writer, declaring their season lost more than a month ago.
“It’s a big game. Big home game, Tim (Howard)’s final home game. It’s my old club. A game with a special meeting. It’s going to be an exciting time,” said Acosta.
Acosta has adjusted to Fraser now and the early returns on the coaching appointment and that relationship appear to be good.
“He’s been really good for us. We’ve asked him to play in a couple of different roles, different reads, and different circumstances. He’s been really attentive. As a result, he’s been really effective,” Fraser said at training this week.
“Robin really stresses the little details. Creating space, finding space. It’s just a matter of being clean and finding pockets to be dangerous. I’m just trying to implement his little details and add it to my game. Everyday I’m progressing. The only way is to go up. It’s been a pleasure working with him,” said Acosta.
The Rapids have a chance to keep their playoff hopes alive and deal a serious blow to FC Dallas and their playoff hopes. Should Acosta continue to improve his form as he has since the summer, he could get back on the radar of the United States Men’s National Team in 2020. This also could lead to Acosta contributing to a Rapids return to the playoffs, this year or certainly next.
