Rapids And Dallas Duel To Scoreless Draw

That was one of the more entertaining scoreless draws the Rapids have played in recent years.  both teams had good looks, both teams probably could have gotten 3 points, so both teams should feel a draw was a fair result.  As you would expect for the first game of the season the teams looked sloppy and ran out of steam late.  Both sides had long stretches where they didn't threaten (the 15 minutes on either side of halftime for Dallas, a good chunk of the second half for Colorado) and the air went out of the ball about the 60th minute, but hey, MLS is back!

Random Thoughts

• The stats really show how equal this one was.  both teams had the same number of shots (Dallas had one more on target), the Rapids won the possession battle but not by a ton, and expected goals went to Dallas by 0.1, 0.9-0.8.
• The ref somehow managed to keep control of the game without dishing out cards.  Right around halftime things were getting hot but he talked to the players, managed the situation, and things calmed down.  A great job by him.  The only card in the game was on Bassett late in the match for a professional foul.
• That said, Wilson was really treading the line a couple of times in the match.  Almost gave up a PK, and probably could have had at least one card.
• Wilson was so active on both ends of the field that if he had any more camera time he'd have to apply for his SAG card.
• I don't understand our strategy for depth at LB.  We signed Beitashour last season to be Vines backup, then when Vines isn't available for the playoffs we play Acosta instead.  Supposedly this is because Fraser didn't feel confident putting Beitashour in that spot with no play all season. We then re-sign him this offseason and he plays a ton in preseason while Vines was with the Olympic team. Vines is not available due to injury...and we start Acosta in that spot again.  So why do we have Beitashour on the roster?
• Acosta isn't the answer BTW.  He seemed to want to play everywhere but LB.  He did well enough but against a better team he will get burned.  Outside of his responsibilities at LB he played well, but we need him in midfield where he wants to play.
• All in all the back line did good enough to make sure any shots that got off were pretty much right at Yarbrough.  He had one big save in the first few minutes of the match but other than that it was pretty much all routine.
• Jack Price looked good.  He had one two-footed tackle that had it been 6" to the right would have been straight red but he timed it perfectly for a clean clearance of the ball.  His free kicks were dangerous all night, we should have scored off a couple of his corners.
• Shinyashiki played a lot better than Rubio.  Its one game so I'm not worried, but if it continues we would have to consider him starting at the #9 position.  Rubio, outside of one great tackle, was fairly quiet.
• I was hoping Drew Moor would get subbed in.  He's originally a Dallas guy and with this being our only trip to Dallas this season and him being on a one year contract this might have been his last chance to play at "home".
• Next week is Austin and for an expansion team they looked pretty organized against LAFC.  They faded at the end and allowed 2 easy goals (and certainly Bradley's blunder to sub out Vela in the 22nd minute by mistake helped) but they won't be as easy a 3 points next week as we hoped.  That said, we should still beat them.

Man of the Match: Michael Barrios.  Maybe it was playing against his old side but he was active on Saturday night.  He had the best chances and hit the post on one of them.  If he can keep this level of play up he's going to put goals on the board (either himself or setting up his teammates). He was a bit unlucky in this one but the goals will come.