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MLS: 3 non-playoff teams to make 2020 playoffs

By Andrew Dowdeswell

COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 02: Columbus Crew SC Head Coach Caleb Porter giving the thumbs up to the fans before the match between the New York Red Bulls at Columbus Crew SC at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on March 3, 2019. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 02: Columbus Crew SC Head Coach Caleb Porter giving the thumbs up to the fans before the match between the New York Red Bulls at Columbus Crew SC at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on March 3, 2019. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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MLS, Colorado Rapids
COMMERCE CITY, CO – AUGUST 03: Lalas Abubakar #6 and Kei Kamara #23 of the Colorado Rapids celebrates following a penalty scored by Kamara during the first half against the Montreal Impact at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on August 3, 2019 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

2. Colorado Rapids

There were not many teams who ended the 2019 season hotter than the Colorado Rapids. They won five of their final seven matches and very nearly sneaked into the playoffs on the final day of the season. All in all, they went 8-7-3 in the second half of the season which is playoff pace.

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After a torrid start to the campaign that saw them fire the incumbent Anthony Hudson, eventually replacing him with Robin Fraser in August, the Rapids developed a clear style in the final matches of the year. Their team was built on an excellent attack. They scored 58 goals on the year, third only to New York City FC and Los Angeles FC. Kei Kamara, Diego Rubio and Andre Shinyashiki are all natural goalscorers, while Jonathan Lewis is an excellent wide threat and Jack Price is creative from deeper positions.

Add in the permanent move for Lalas Abubakar, who was one of the premier defenders in all of MLS down the stretch, and the acquisition of Auston Trusty, and the Rapids might finally have a solid defence to partner their prolific attack. If Trusty can back to his 2018 form, the Rapids will have one of the most modern, athletic and complementary centre-back partnerships in the league.

And then, amidst all this, they add Younes Namli to be that difference-making DP, a creative attacking midfielder who will knit everything together and provide those inimitable moments of magic that every playoff team requires. This was a good team in 2019 and they only got better this offseason. That is the recipe for a playoff team.

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