The Colorado Rapids returned to MLS action Saturday taking on fellow Western Conference side Vancouver Whitecaps. In their first MLS game since June 7th the Rapids looked to keep their surprise season going strong. Entering the game Colorado sat in third in the conference while Vancouver was just three points behind in fifth.
Neither team looked very solid in the early going of the game, but that would change around the 15th minute. Colorado started to take control offensively. Dillon Powers was leading the charge in that aspect! Powers would get the Rapids on the board in the 20th minute blasting his second shot of the game right into the bottom corner of the net. The Rapids would not be satisfied with just one goal on the night. In the 35th minute Deshorn Brown was taken down in the penalty area and earned a PK. Vicente Sanchez would step up to take it and but it in the back of the net for his sixth goal of the season, and fifth converted PK.
With the Rapids getting two goals and in the first half they were able to concentrate on stopping Vancouver's attack. While they did not "park the bus" in the second half, they focused on making well timed attacks forward and playing as a group on defense. Vancouver could do nothing to get past the Rapids back line and could never get any really dangerous attempts on goal.
While head coach Pablo Mastroeni has preached an attacking style of play all season, the biggest thing that has gone right for Colorado in 2014 has been their play defensively. In 2013 the Rapids were able to put up 10 clean sheets. Already in 2014 they have eight. Drew Moor, Shane O'neill, Chris Klute, and Marvell Wynne have all been playing at a high level and Saturday night was no different.
We went in with a game plan for Vancouver. We knew they had some good speed up top, with Hurtado and Mattocks, and I think we executed perfectly tonight. The first half we were really smart, kept the ball really well, but in the second half it was more of a grind, just trying to battle it out. We did that. The communication on the backline was huge tonight, it was a lot better, and I think going forward that has to be the standard. If that’s the case, I think we might go on a good run here.--Shane O'Neill
While the performance of the Rapids defense has been stellar this season, it is not just them that is giving Colorado a boost. The old adage that the best defense is a good offense truly applies in this case. The team has scored 11 goals in the last five games and have given up just four goals. With improved all around team play Colorado is a team that is going to be dangerous in every game.
Those players, every game we’ve played this year, have come off the field exhausted.--Pablo Mastroeni
The Rapids are a young team and It will show from time to time the rest of the season, but if they countinue the stiffling defense and creativity that is being shown offensively they will be a team to be reckoned with.