"A total team clean sheet": Rapids' defensive effort against LAFC boosts team confidence

The Colorado Rapids held reigning MLS Cup champions LAFC to a scoreless draw over the weekend, posting a performance that left players, coaches and fans alike encouraged by the team's potential to get into dangerous areas, hold possession and keep the pressure on one of the best attacking teams in the league.

The Rapids held the Black and Gold to just two shots on goal over the entire night. Goalkeeper William Yarbrough came up big early in the match, saving both shots in the 19th minute as Carlos Vela attempted a header from the center of the box and former Rapid Kellyn Acosta attempted to clean up the rebounded save.

From then on, LAFC was unable to register a shot on frame as Colorado’s defense applied pressure and eliminated scoring chances before they could reach the Rapids’ box.

Playing with a 3-4-2-1 formation, the Rapids three center backs could neutralize LAFC’s attack with the help of holding midfielders, Bryan Acosta and Connor Ronan.

Andreas Maxsø joins the steadfast pair of Danny Wilson and Lalas Abubakar on Colorado’s back line this year, adding a strong presence to what is already a well-oiled defensive machine.

"I think the more we see Maxsø the more we realize how comfortable he is in these situations,” head coach Robin Fraser said after the game. “He's an incredibly responsible defender…he is a very, very conscientious defender.

“Between the three of them they were extremely, extremely dialed in, and the attributes of the three players who play the positions for us right now are somewhat different, but it gives us different things in different parts of the field or different phases of play. Basically, Danny's passing has been an important part of this team for a long time, and Lalas, his tenacity has been an important part of this team for a long time. I think when we look at the three of them and how well they're playing together, it's really about three good players, learning to play with each other, having good understanding of themselves and what is being asked of the team. So therefore they can transmit that information throughout the group.”

Defender Keegan Rosenberry applauded the entire team’s efforts to staunch the defending MLS Cup winners attack on Saturday, noting a “total team clean sheet”.

“I think it's all 11 of us, it starts with the guys up top,” he said. “We talked so much about dealing with–we call them pivots–are the guys that can get on the ball and turn and make the game. Sanchez is such an important player for them, and our ability to limit the amount of time he had on the ball and the amount of times he can look forward and pick passes out to their most dangerous players behind us, so the defending starts with the guys in the front and I think they did a really good job and you know, a total team clean sheet for sure.”

From players like Michael Barrios using his speed to track back and correct a turnover to Sam Nicholson picking off passes on the wing, it was the entire Rapids’ lineup that contributed to the shutout at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park on Saturday night, and a shutout against the No. 3 team in the Western Conference, no less.

“That's how a team has to function,” said Fraser. “I feel like the game has changed so much that once upon a time there were players who just waited to get the ball and then attack and when the ball turned over they'd sit and wait. Something I've always really liked about this team is the unselfishness…there are a lot of very good players in the world who still don't want to defend. And so for us, part of the way that we feel like we need to function to compete is that we have to have everyone working to defend and everyone working in the attack. And when we are at our best, it looks very much like a team.”

Despite the lack of goals scored for the home side, the Rapids’ locker room takes Saturday’s result as a large net positive. Against an unbeaten LAFC squad, Colorado controlled the majority of the defense, took more shots on goal, and completed more final third entries.

“The message after the game from Robin was [that] we're in a much better place now and we feel like we're disappointed with a tie against one of the best teams in the league, if not the best team in the league,” said Rosenberry. “And I think that was a sentiment for a lot of people in the locker room tonight. I think I come away feeling like we could have definitely generated more chances to feel more dangerous, to feel like we could have scored more, but you know, we do keep a clean sheet at the end of the night again against one of the better teams in the league. So there's a lot of positives to build on.”