Rapids, NYCFC prepare to play ball at Citi Field

As a New York native and former coach of the New York Red Bulls, first-year Colorado Rapids coach Chris Armas is quite familiar with playing games on baseball fields.

Instead of at Yankee Stadium, Armas will coach his new team at Citi Field, the home of the New York Mets, Sunday afternoon when the Rapids visit New York City FC in a clash of two teams in the top half of their respective conferences.

"It's always been at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx," said Armas, who coached the Red Bulls from 2018-20. "We've gotten the dimensions, it's very similar to what they do at Yankee Stadium. And it makes for an interesting game. Having coached in those games, I know what those games can look like. So it'll help prepare a bit. They've been really good lately, especially at home."

Armas took over after interim coach Chris Little was not retained following Colorado's 14th-place finish in the West last season.

So far, Armas has his new team off to a solid start. The Rapids (4-3-3, 15 points) are 3-1-1 in their past five contests, though they are coming off a 2-1 loss at FC Cincinnati on April 27 when they had only two shots on target and conceded 25 shots.

NYCFC (4-4-2, 14 points) is seeking a fourth straight win, is unbeaten in its past five and 4-1-2 in its past seven following a season-opening three-game losing streak. NYCFC earned its latest win by rallying for a 2-1 victory over Charlotte FC on April 27 when Alonso Martinez scored the game-winner in second-half stoppage time and Keaton Parks got the tying goal in the 41st minute.

It was the third straight game NYCFC scored two goals and the second consecutive week it scored in second-half stoppage time.

"There's only so many times you can score in the 91st and 93rd minute," NYCFC coach Nick Cushing said. "I'm really proud of the mentality, but when we get performances that are dominant, we have to try and get the second and third goal."

--Field Level Media