Colorado Rapids continue impressive season with FC Dallas win
Colorado Rapids are at it again
The results continue to flow for the Colorado Rapids, a 2-0 home win over FC Dallas on Wednesday night another big result for the rising Western Conference club.
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Goals by Lalas Abubakar and Michael Barrios lifted the Rapids to a seventh straight result at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. But more important to the side is that they now have eight points from their last four matches – all at home – helping them build results against their rivals in the Western Conference.
Following Barrios’ goal in the 55th minute, the Rapids closed down on FC Dallas, frustrating the visitors while earning the shutout. The Rapids are now the only team in MLS to have not conceded a goal in the final 15 minutes of any match this season.
“It’s a real testament to the players and their grit and fight. This feeling that we bend but we don’t really break, it’s very much about how they interact with each other and how they play for each other,” Colorado Rapids head coach Robin Fraser said after the match.
“As a result of that, I think we’ve seen a very cohesive effort late in games. If we have to emergency defend, we’ll emergency defend. If we can keep them away from our goal, we’ll do that. But collectively they’ve taken this challenge on really well and embraced it.”
With the win, the Rapids are now 7-2-3 (24 points) and remain in fourth place in the Western Conference.
One has to feel good about the state of the Rapids right now, a team that made the playoffs a season ago and now seems to be building on that success. This team, often-overlooked, has put together a tremendous season.
Colorado Rapids respond to Fraser
Fraser should be among the contenders for MLS coach of the Year, navigating the season with impressive precision. He has a Colorado Rapids roster that is modestly built and has integrated young talent with MLS veterans to have an organized and poised side that is capable as well as dangerous.
Evidence of his handling of the club came on Wednesday night, where his team looked at times disjointed in the first half before scoring two goals in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.
“The biggest thing he said was we should try and keep the ball because in the first half we were not really good on the ball,” Abubakar said of Fraser’s message to the team after the match.
“They were having the ball more. We did a couple tactical changes in the locker room. Give credit to the coaches, they did really well. They talked to us in the second half and I think that helped us. We came out and we did what we had to do to win the game.”
Follow Kristian Dyer of ‘MLS Multiplex‘ on Twitter @KristianRDyer