MLS Western Conference: DPs debut, Colorado Rapids impress & more on each team

Welcome back our two-part weekly MLS column here at Backheeled, where we break down all 29 teams in the league.

I’ve got the West. Ben Wright’s got the East. Texas has a pair of new DPs. Let’s chat about the latest for each Western Conference squad, shall we?

To read up on the East, check out Ben’s rundown.

MLS Eastern Conference: Philadelphia Union surge, Atlanta United’s shock win & more on each team

We’re dissecting every MLS team in the Eastern Conference.

BackheeledBen Wright

Austin FC

Result: 2-2 draw vs. Charlotte FC

Ben Wright: New DP Osman Bukari made his Austin debut. While clearly not fully fit, he was really exciting. He looks like a top-tier one-v-one dribbler. His pace is electric, he has a low center of gravity and a good change of direction, and he was able to get around his defender multiple times and put in decent service.

Right back Mikkel Desler also made his debut, and while he didn’t have a significant impact on the match, he was tidy on the ball and already showed good understanding of Josh Wolff’s structure, pushing further forward into a wingback position whenever Jhojan Valencia split the center backs. Desler’s entrance also allowed Jon Gallagher to play as a winger, and he eventually found the equalizer.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t just mention what a sexy, sexy pass this is from Dani Pereira. 

My word, the sauce on this ball should come with a warning. Pass of the week, easy!

Colorado Rapids

Result: 3-2 win vs. Real Salt Lake

How’s that for your last push before Leagues Cup?

With their victory on Saturday, the Colorado Rapids officially secured a 2W-0D-1L season series win over rivals Real Salt Lake.

Though Andres Gomez put the visitors in the lead early on, Colorado charged back to put themselves ahead before the halftime whistle and generally bettered RSL en route to reclaiming the Rocky Mountain Cup. Of course, it has to be said that Pablo Mastroeni’s team was missing Chicho Arango due to a suspension for violating MLS’s anti-harassment policy. 

Still, you can only play the teams in front of you — and the Rapids out-played Real Salt Lake this weekend. 

Now, that doesn’t mean it was all easy-breezy in Colorado. If there’s a reason to doubt the Rapids’ status as a legitimate threat in the Western Conference, it’s because of their poor wing play and suspect goalkeeping from Zack Steffen. Both of those things showed themselves just a few seconds apart less than 10 minutes in at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park:

But without Arango suiting up on the other side, Chris Armas’ bet on his team’s ability to cede possession and frustrate RSL. Colorado kept just 28% possession in the first half. Still, the Rapid’s didn’t just shut up shop and hang out in their own defensive third for 90 minutes. Their occasional possession sequences featured genuine incision and their ability to turn a spell of high pressure into turnovers and chances popped up towards the end of the first half.

The Rapids aren’t great at any one thing, but they’re pretty darn good at a lot of things.