Tie-ing Up Loose Ends

Sorry I went dark after the Timbers match.  We left later that week on a road trip we got back from yesterday.  I did watch the Timbers game and the second half of the Vancouver game.  I didn't see the Toronto game at all, but by all reports I didn't miss anything.

While I didn't hate the LA game ending in a draw the last 3 results are all unacceptable.  Going to Portland and getting a draw sounds good, but there's no way we should have given that lead up twice.  And not being able to break down the Canadian duo at home is concerning.

The book is out on how to play the Rapids, especially in Commerce City.  Park the bus, conserve energy at altitude, and hope to steal a goal.  If not you're still getting out with a point.  Colorado hasn't shown an ability to break down a defensive shell like that and until we do, teams will keep using it.

This is where not having a sure-fire 10-15 goal striker hurts us.  We have plenty of guys who can set up opportunities, but few with the killer instinct to finish them.  If you look at our eXpected Goals over the last few games you see the Rapids with a high number of low percentage shots that add up to an xG of 1-2 goals a game, but very few good shots that are saved.  The few really good shots we've gotten we've mostly scored, but we can't find the guy to put away a lower percentage chance.

The good news is that the teams around us have largely stumbled as well.  We're 1 point behind KC for 2nd with a game in hand, and 3 points behind Seattle for first with 2 head-to-head matchups left.  The Timbers have moved into 4th but are still 5 points behind us and we have a game in hand and the Galaxy are 7 points back in 5th (the first playoff spot without a guaranteed home match) and we have a game in hand over them as well.  Things are still looking good for locking up a home playoff match, but our schedule gets a lot harder from here on out, we missed a good chance to solidify our spot in the top 2.

I'll be back to normal coverage now, with a game preview of Wednesday night's home match against Austin tomorrow.