As Expected

 

Quoting from my game preview:

1-1 draw, goal by Barrios.  The Galaxy have a slightly better offense than us, but a lousy defense.  Unfortunately I don't think we'll be able to take as much advantage of that as we would like as I expect us to play more defensively to compensate for the loss of Price, Trusty, and Abubakar.  its getting harder and harder every game to pick against the Rapids with how their playing, but f there's a game that sets us back, tomorrow is likely it given the weather and absences.

On Saturday the Rapids took the lead midway through the second half on a goal from Barrios, and then gave it back late.  Pretty much exactly what I expected to happen.  It feels like 2 points lost, because in a way it was, but going into the game I felt a draw would be a solid result given that we had missing/not fully rested players, the heat, and the fact that we had to plan for a 3-game week.  So while it is disappointing its not horrible.

Random Thoughts:

• Lets give it up for Kellyn Acosta.  I didn't expect him to start, much less play 90 minutes in that heat.  That made for 270 minutes in 6 days in 3 cities, including a trip to Honduras and back.  I'd say there's no way he plays in Portland on Wednesday, but I didn't think he'd play much on Saturday.
• It was particularly shocking to see Kaye being the international that got subbed off.  Not that I disagreed with it, I was just sure it would be Acosta.
• Shinyashiki's assist on the goal was absolutely perfect.  He looks up, sees Barrios making the run, holds back for just a sec, and then plays a beautiful cross exactly where it needed to be.  You couldn't have placed it better if you picked up the ball, walked over to Barrios, and held it in place.
• Yarbrough has the best of times, worst of times game.  He stone walled LA on a break away in the first half that could be a save of the week.  Then on the LA goal he misplayed it and it went through his hands.  While the opportunity came from a great outlet pass from LA's half, the defense played it well and forced the attacker to take a long shot from the side of the box that Will had covered.  He just misread it.
• The stats for the game showed two pretty equal teams.  While it felt like the Rapids had the majority of the play (and they did, about 10% more of the possession and twice as many shots) the actual dangerous chances were fairly even.
• The moment of silence for the 9/11 remembrance was the quietest I've ever heard the stadium during a moment of silence.
• With the draw Robin Fraser is guaranteed to finish the season with the highest career PPG of any Rapids head coach.
• Still need 2 points to drive the Bodmer Line to 0.  Right now its at 0.167 pts/game.
• With the other results we're back in 3rd on points, but 2nd on PPG.  But with Seattle beating Minnesota and us holding LA to 1 point there's a clear gap between the top 4 and the rest of the West, and a pretty good gap opening between the Galaxy and the top 3.  Not having a home playoff game at this point would be a significant disappointment, and realistically we should be looking at 3rd place as merely acceptable.
• Next up a trip to Portland on Wednesday night.  The Timbers defense is on a 4 game shutout streak so it could be a low scoring game.  Getting any points helps reinforce that gap between the Galaxy in 4th and Portland in 5th.

Man of the Match:  Andre Shinyashiki.  Just for that assist.