Despite losing Tim Howard for the remainder of the MLS season, the Colorado Rapids are still in good shape going forward in the playoffs.
The Colorado Rapids may have lost star goalkeeper, Tim Howard, for the rest of the 2016 Major League Soccer season but they still have a good chance in the MLS Cup Playoffs. The veteran keeper will reportedly miss four months because of surgery to repair a fracture of the right adductor longus which is located in the upper groin. (MLSsoccer.com) All is not lost for Colorado, they still have plenty of talent to make up for the loss of Howard.
The Rapids were the second best team in Major League Soccer this season. Half of their outstanding season was without Tim, who arrived in July from Everton. Before that, they were still one of the top clubs in MLS because of good goalkeeping and great defense.
Granted, it will be more difficult without Howard going forward because of his leadership and experience. He is an important player for the Rapids and it will be tough to cope without him. The 37-year old goalkeeper proved his worth between the sticks during the semi-final round when he held the LA Galaxy to only one goal in two legs and he made two saves during the penalty shootout.
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Great Defense
Tim Howard is a great goalkeeper but losing him doesn’t change that the Rapids had the best defense in the league this year. They only allowed 32 goals this season which was considerably lower than every other team. While the whole Starting XI has bought into great team defense, the back four, and especially the two center backs, have been the MVP’s for Colorado this season.
Axel Sjoberg, Marc Burch, Eric Miller, and Jared Watts have been one of, if not the most, solid back line in Major League Soccer this season. They are all healthy and fit going forward. Even without Howard behind them, they can shut out almost any opponent by themselves.
Zac MacMath Can be Colorado’s Hero
Before Tim Howard arrived in Colorado, Zac MacMath was having a career season for the Rapids. If you compare the 17 games he’s played this season to the 17 games Howard played, their numbers are pretty similar. If anything, MacMath’s are a little better.
Howard – 17 games, 73 shots, 54 saves, 19 goals allowed, 1.12 GAA
MacMath – 17 games, 57 shots, 39 saves, 13 goals allowed, 0.76 GAA
Despite being benched in favor of Tim for the majority of the second half of the season, Zac has a chance to be Colorado’s hero. He has been a proven goalkeeper in Major League Soccer this year so it isn’t crazy to think that MacMath can lead the Rapids to the MLS Cup Final.
Same Game Plan Every Match
Losing Tim Howard does not change Pablo Mastroeni’s game plan. The Rapids will still be a heavily defensive team that will counter attack and take advantage of their opponents mistakes. Colorado hasn’t been a team that creates a lot of chances this season but they do capitalize on the few good chances they get.
The Colorado Rapids are a well-coached side that will stick to their game plan and play as if Howard were still in goal. This is a huge opportunity for Zac MacMath and this team’s playoffs hopes now fall on him playing as good as he did early this season. If this squad does make it past the Seattle Sounders and into the MLS Cup Final, it will because of their defense and backline.