That's how FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman sees it.
"I think this is one of those games that we must win," Hyndman said. "When we were at the 10-game threshold, we talked about winning all of our (remaining) home games and then trying to steal some points on the road. Winning all those home games would have given us 15 points but we just lost to Columbus. So, now we've got to win the next four home games and try to steal some points on the road. Our future is in our hands. We have the ability to put ourselves in the playoffs. It's really coming down to character tests, scoring goals and not giving up soft ones."
The Hoops come off a 2-1 loss to Columbus on Saturday in Frisco. FCD took an early lead off Jeff Cunningham's second goal with his new side but surrendered their edge in short order and were trailing not soon after in the loss. Two momentary mental lapses led to the Crew's goals, something Hyndman wants to see quickly corrected.
"Part of it is the leadership and players on the field," he said. "We have Duilio (Davino), Marcelo (Saragosa) and Pablo (Ricchetti). I think they're all experienced players who keep talking and keep people focused. I think that's one way (to help avoid these lapses). I think another way is to do training where we're up 1-0 with five minutes left to work on staying focused to put them back into that mentality.
"What we have to do is develop a culture of winning. We don't have that and haven't had that here," Hyndman continued. "In my time with the team, I don't think we've developed that, which is if you show up on the field, we're going to win the game. If they're up 1-0, we're going to find a way to win the game. We're trying to develop that culture of winning."
The FCD backline will look a bit different against Colorado. Adrian Serioux is away with the Canadian national team and Drew Moor will slide over to right back from the middle to fill his spot. And Hoops captain Duilio Davino could return to the middle alongside Aaron Pitchkolan after missing the last four games with a toe injury.
Moor spent much of the year on the right flank, so Hyndman clearly feels comfortable with him in that spot.
"He is versatile and can play center back or right back," Hyndman said. "It's a different position. At center back, you're dealing with more of a physical game, more of an air game. On the flanks, you're dealing more with one-v-one and trying to deny services. You're also looking at a player that releases the defense in the attack and has better passing qualities. Those types of things are more the characteristics of a wide player."
At the holding midfield spot, FCD gets Ricchetti back after he missed the Columbus game on suspension.
"It's not just having his presence, the qualities of leadership and communication are also important," Hyndman said of the veteran Argentinean. "When you go with young players, they will make inexperienced mistakes. What Pablo and Duilio both do is have a rich level of experience and are able to share that through experience. Having him back is good for us."
For each of the last two games, Dax McCarty has played on the left of midfield, a position unfamiliar to him since Dutch international Victor Sikora is sidelined with a knee injury.
"There are two issues with Dax but I think he's done average," Hyndman said. "The first issue is embracing the position. It's a mental thing and I don't think he's done that. I think he's embraced the fact that he's in the top 11 and he'll play anywhere you put him but he'll always gravitate back to where he wants to play, in the center.
"The other thing is that he doesn't really have the characteristics that flank players naturally have. Everybody has different qualities, so we're asking him to play a position that's not to his best. Characteristics of a flank player are that they take people on one-v-one and serve quality balls," Hyndman continued. "I think he can do that just not from the left side. Flank players also need to get forward, be part of the strike force and penetrate. I don't think those areas fit him perfectly but we're trying to get our better players on the field."
FCD has yet to beat the Rapids this year. On June 1, the sides met at Dick's Sporting Goods Park and the home side prevailed 2-1 getting goals from Conor Casey in the first half and Tom McManus in the second.
On July 19, the two squads faced off in Frisco and finished in a 2-2 draw. Colorado drew ahead early when Herculez Gomez connected in the fifth minute. FCD answered with goals from Kenny Cooper and Juan Toja but Casey bailed out the Rapids with a strike in the 67th minute to secure the draw.
That draw was only the second time that Colorado has left Frisco with a point. In fact, the Rapids have a six-match winless streak against the Hoops away from home. Their last win in Dallas came on May 18, 2005 at the Cotton Bowl.
No matter the setting, the FCD players know to expect a battle every time the Rapids pop up on the schedule.
"It's always a tough game whenever we play Colorado," McCarty said. "I think I described them as a scrappy team and they like to grind out results. It's always a battle against them. We're in the same conference and it's an important game for both teams. We expect a tough game. We're both kind of fighting for our playoff lives right now, so it's going to be a tough game."
Moor agreed. "Colorado is a tough team to play," he said. "I feel like most games we have against them are one-goal games and could go here or there. It's just about outworking them. We have to match their intensity and play good soccer. If that happens, things could take care of themselves."
Like his coach, McCarty calls Thursday's affair a must-win.
"You can't look toward future games or any games down the road," he said. "We have to get the next game and treat it like it's the most important one. Once we start get rolling here and get a win, it will help us out and build our confidence a little bit. Hopefully, we can go on a roll and get into the playoffs. I think one win could hopefully start a lot more wins."
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