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Final game to define the Rapids 2009 campaign: Colorado Rapids at Real Salt Lake
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(AP Photo/Will Powers)
The goal of every Major League Soccer team is to make the playoffs. A few teams aim a bit higher, targeting the MLS Cup, the Open Cup, or the Supporter's Shield, but most teams aim for the simple target of making the MLS playoffs. This year eight of the fifteen MLS squads will be in the playoffs. Six of those spots have been claimed. The remaining two slots are up for grabs with six teams vying for them, including the Colorado Rapids.
The wire looms a length ahead for the MLS pack. The Rapids are in front by a nose with 40 points. Four teams are neck-and-neck behind the Rapids with 39 points a piece. Real Salt Lake trails the pack by a length with 37 points. Real Salt Lake's only hope to enter the post season is to trip the Rapids up at the wire.
The odds of Real Salt Lake pipping the Rapids are very good. Real are in their comfort zone at Rio Tinto Stadium where they have managed to earn 2.07 points per game this season. The third best home field point-per-game total in the league. The Rapids are well outside their comfort zone, travelling to Utah having only managed .78 points-per-game on the road, the fourth worst in the league.
The home field advantage may be the most important variable entering this match. Neither team can not brag about their current form. Over the last five games each team has managed only four points. Over the last ten games Real has edged the Rapids by earning 14 points to the Rapids 13. The average for MLS teams for the period is 13.6 points per game, so the Rapids are slightly worse than average and Real has been slightly better. Real has needed to do better just to have a shot. The Rapid could have avoided their situation by getting one more win.
Recent history still looms over the Rapids who have not scored first in a game since September 5th, seven game ago. The striking duo of Omar Cummings and Conor Casey have proven that they can put the ball in the net. Since the loss of the trio of wing players, Jacob Peterson, Jamie Smith, and Colin Clark the Rapids have struggled to score from the run of play. The last player to receive credit for an assist is Jacob Peterson who sent in the cross back on September 5th. (It should be noted that the stats-keepers are being a little unfair by not crediting Nick LaBrocca's work on Pat Noonan's goal scored last Saturday. This is a very good reason to ignore anyone who quotes assists as proof of quality.)
Real by contrast is at full strength, but for a few nagging hamstrings. So how might the Rapids approach the game? A draw will no longer due. The Rapids need to win and the Rapids need to score to do it. For the better part of the season the Rapids had found goals by quick counters. In the absence of speedier players the team has tended to pursue a grind-it-out approach that has resulted in the team falling behind a goal short and having to score to pull even. For several games the Rapids pulled even by throwing bodies forward. In the absence of speedy players and under pressure to score the Rapids might do well to throw bodies forward into the attack. That might expose the team to counter attacks. At this point it's win or die. So why not go down fighting?
Whatever happens the game should be entertaining. Both teams need to score, and both teams are out if they don't. It's one and done. It's.... well, whatever cliche you like, it's simply the most important game of the year.
The game is on the Fox Soccer channel, which limits viewing opportunities. For social types or those who do not have access to Fox Soccer there are many places to catch this match. The best most soccer friendly places in Denver to catch the game are: Sobo 151, The British Bulldog, and G.B.'s Fish n Chips. The British Bulldog will be hosting the supporters groups and is home to the official viewing party.
