Rapids Clinch Top 3 Finish, tie Best Season Ever

So I didn't watch this game, because I was at Fan EXPO Denver.  I did watch the 15 minute recap MLS posted to its website, but about the point where Badji scored I got bored and started reading The Athletic's article about Ryan Reynold's and Rob McElhenney's trip to Wrexham to see the team they bought, Wrexham FC.

As an aside, even though I'm a bit of a fan of Wrexham's rival Chester, I find that story really fun to follow.  The article is worth reading if you have a subscription.  Non-league football is more enjoyable to follow than Champions League football.  Yeah, I said it.

Back to the Rapids, the game was just dull.  Even the 15-minute recap struggled to find enough highlights to fill the time.  The important thing though is the Rapids got the 3 points.  instead of reviewing a dull game I didn't watch we'll just talk about what the result means.

• With the win we're guaranteed to finish in the top 3 of the West and the top 4 overall
• The 3 points tied the 2016 team for the most points in team history.  The Rapids go for a new record against LAFC on Sunday.
• Currently Colorado is in a tie with KC and Seattle for the top spot, but both teams have a game in hand.  The Rapids also lose all possible tie-breaking scenarios with those teams.
• What that means, in short, is that a win by either KC or Seattle in their final 2 games means we can't pass them regardless of our result by LAFC.  A win by both of them means we're locked into 3rd.
• Seattle kicks off against the Galaxy in about 15 minutes, then goes to Vancouver on Decision Day.  KC goes to Austin on Wednesday and hosts FSL on Sunday.
• If one of the teams doesn't win either game, we pass them with a win over LAFC.  If they lose both games we pass them with a draw.
• If we can pass one of them we would clinch a Concacaf Champions League spot.  If we don't pass either one of them, but if one of them or New England wins MLS Cup we get the extra CCL spot (we would also qualify if we won MLS Cup, obviously).
• Badji's goal gives him 4 on the season, That puts him into a 3-way tie for 4th on the team with Basset and Shinyashiki.  Both of them and the 3 ahead of Badji (Rubio, Lewis, and Barrios who leads with 8) have played a minimum of about 1250 minutes..  Badji has played 307.
• Barrios has a 3 goal lead over Lewis and Rubio for the Golden Boot, so that's probably locked down.  Barrios and Rubio are tied for second with 5 assists, but Jack Price is lapping the field with 12.  The real question is can Captain Jack get 1 more on Sunday, tying him with Barrios for the lead in goals + assists?
• Our possible first round opponent is still up in the air as Portland, Minnesota, Vancouver, the Galaxy, FSL, and LAFC are all separated by just 6 points and everyone other than Minnesota has 2 games left to play.  My money is still on us finishing 3rd and facing Minnesota or the Galaxy though.

Since I didn't watch the game I'm giving the Man of the Match to Robin Fraser, for taking us to (hopefully) our best season ever.