Written By: Riccardo Cominelli
The Colorado Rapids escape an avalanche of attacks from Vancouver Whitecaps FC thanks to heroics from goalkeeper William Yarbrough. The final score in Vancouver was 0-0 and that concluded a pretty mid-MLS Match Day 10.
Colorado continues its recent undefeated streak to seven games, in all competitions. This marks Colorado’s third scoreless tie of the season, once before against Sporting Kansas City in March and another against LAFC in April, both games at home.
Looking at the results you might think that Colorado’s defense has been superb, and although the back three of Andreas Maxso, Danny Wilson, and Lalas Abubakar has had great moments – the main man in the back – William Yarbrough is to take the credit. In the match against Vancouver, Yarbrough made five crucial saves to keep the score leveled.
Starting XI
The Colorado Rapids lined up with their 3-4-2-1 formation they have been deploying most of this season, with Maxso, Abubakar, and Wilson towering the defense. Both Maxso and Abubakar played in the mid-week match against Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, getting U.S. Open Cup minutes.
A new look at the wingbacks, on the left-hand side Steven Beitashour and on the right-hand side Keegan Rosenberry. With not Bryan Acosta in the lineup, Connor Ronan paired up with Max in the double-pivot midfield. Max would be able to start his game from deeper on the pitch and join the attack as usual.
The two attacking midfielders consisted of Sam Nicholson and Diego Rubio. We have not seen Nicholson play this high up this season, a gamble, with injuries, that Head Coach Robin Fraser wanted to take on and exploit Sam’s attacking power. Leading the Rapids line was Michael Barrios looking to add another goal to his season tally. Barrios has rescued the Rapids, not once but twice already this season.
The Game
Colorado started knocking first with a chance from Michael Barrios, finding space in behind and getting a shot off on goal hitting the side net. Minutes later Barrios threatened the left-hand side and was able to dribble to the top of the left side of the box and cut back for a chance missed by Max and Keegan’s efforts right at the goalie. The first real chance of the game. Less than a minute later, Brian White for Vancouver was able to take a touch in the box and lay a shot off which was saved by Yarbrough and then hit the bar. A nice run into the box by White. Those were the biggest chances of the first half as both teams went into it scoreless.
The second half kicked off and right off the bat Vancouver tested Yarbrough with a nice shot from Javain Brown but his efforts were down the middle and easily saved then cleared by Wilson. Another chance for Brown off the corner kicks just five minutes later, his header effort went just wide of the goal.
The first 15 minutes of the second half leaned all Vancouver. The effort from Brian White minutes after the hour mark goes wide of the goal, with no attempt of a save from Yarbrough. In the 66th minute, Yarbrough’s best save of the match as he is able to tip over a fast curling effort from Luis Martins. Martins meets his effort on the volley at the top of the box, good contact.
In the 77th minute of the match, an effort by Jonathan Lewis to get into the box ends up in him getting fouled by Brown and a penalty kick from Colorado. Diego Rubio steps up to take the penalty kick but his efforts are saved by Japanese goalkeeper Yohel Takaoka. The game ends with one last chance for the Rapids with a redirected shot from Lewis, saved again by Takaoka.
Both teams were desperately looking for a win here and they’ll feel they both had the better chances to take all three points away. Vancouver sits in the last playoff spot for the MLS Western Conference having played 9 games with 11 points. Colorado is still looking in, sitting in 12th place with 9 points.
What’s Next
Looking ahead for Colorado they are still on the road and they are going against a struggling Los Angeles Galaxy. Another opportunity here for the Rapids to seek a win and maybe take a total of four points back to DSGP. The Galaxy have had a handful of problems of their own, on the field and off the field, this could be a good chance for Colorado to capitalize. Given that the players are healthy, they will need to come out firing at all cylinders.
Colorado Rapids at Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday, May 6th, at 8.30 pm MST and 10.30 pm EST.
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