The tale of the tape, between two
conference foes that know each other very well, considered by many as the
overall favorites to advance into the finals in their conference.
As the Boys from the Rocky Mountain State,
the Colorado Rapids, performing a one of a kind campaign and at times being
atop their conference.
Many saw how this squad front office really
went into the task of eliminating those mediocre campaigns, as last year they
finished in the bottom of the conference and showing off a game that did not
show anything.
This campaign saw a different Rapids squad
performing like in their old days and with a new football that caught the
attention in many after adding to their initial eleven a couple of top rated
names in Jermaine Jones and Tim Howard.
These two making a whole lot of difference
and contributing with their wisdom in the field for the Coloradoans that saw
their fortunes rise and look at the results, still one major obstacle is on the
way for Manager Pablo Mastroeni and his Boys.
This impediment has a name and it is the Seattle
Sounders!
As well the big blow was the injury to Tim
Howard that will sidelined Colorado’s talisman player under its posts, leaving
Manager Mastroeni with his ace under the sleeve with Zac Mac Math who did a
stellar job before the arrival of the former Toffee.
One thing this club has in this campaign is
persistence and a certain degree of stubbornness, with a successful defensive
backfield of Maher, Watts, Sjorberg and Burch that they will have their hands
full against a renewed Seattle attack.
The Rapids midfield with the 4-2-3-1
formation its Boss sends and using his weapons in Azira and Cronin doing the
offensive and defensive roles as well supporting a fab three attack
accompanying Badji, Powers and Gashi in their role of attackers.
Very well these three looking forward to
provide a spectacular and offensive game to their lone striker in Kevin Doyle,
who will have his work cut off against a very stingy Rave Greens defensive
backfield.
Leaving no doubt, why the Colorado Rapids
are in the position they are and looking forward to another MLS Cup to display
proudly in the halls of Dicks Park at Aurora, Colorado, still the label of
favorites edges slightly in their favor.
Going to the Pacific Northwest, where many
thought that the defending champions the Portland Timbers were to be in these
stages, we have a sudden awakening in Century Link Field.
When many saw a Rave Greens meltdown in the
middle of the campaign and seeing their postseason appearances in jeopardy,
it’s when this club front office went into the task of salvaging the campaign
with a new Manager and bringing a couple of top rated players from South
America.
After a series of odd results and the bad
news that their main operate in the field, Clint Dempsey due to a serious medical
condition, sideline him for the rest of the campaign, it is when the revival in
Emerald City took a turn for the best.
The naming of an interim man in alumni
Brian Schmetzer at the helm of this club, suddenly a revival and a new
confidence was seen in the Sounders initial eleven in the field and with a
hungry and dynamic football.
All of a sudden, the Seattleites being once
again in the postseason and play in the knockout rounds against a hardened and
tough client in Sporting Kansas City, beating these and advancing into the West
semifinals against heavily favorite Dallas FC.
Still the Sounders took matters seriously
and eliminated the Dallas FC squad in a convincing manner as well erasing the
Texans game effectively and silencing many of their detractors.
For Manager Brian Schmetzer fab defensive
four in Mears, Marshall, Scott and Jones to protect the posts of Stefan Frei,
these will have their hands full with a challenging Colorado offensive attack.
The midfield with Ozzie Alonso and
Christian Roldan doing the honors as both offensive and defensive anchors and
generating a spark in the Seattle offensive attack, with their three men in
Morris, Freiberg and Lodeiro.
Once again, these will have the honors of
orchestrating the Seattle attack and using the sudden success of Nelson Valdez
in the frontal attack-, we may have a very even and leveled game in these
series.
Despite the Seattle Sounders power and
their foes the Rapids with the label of heavy favorites, the Rave Greens can
make things happen in a flash and after their amazing series against the
Supporters Shield and US Open Cup winners and favorites Dallas FC.
Call them the comeback Boys or the lucky
ones, but the way Seattle is playing a one possessed and inspired and one of a
kind football.
Nothing is on the way of the Seattle
Sounders, as these can finally be in the league final that always slipped from
their grasps and denied, and this time they can go all the way!
Favorite: Slightly advantage for the
Colorado Rapids but do not discard the Seattle Sounders squad out of the
picture, as nothing written until that final minute of the second leg arrives!
Post Contents and Property of Fern
Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved
Photos Credit, Courtesy and Property
of © Jennifer Buchannan USA TODAY, Seattle Sounders and Colorado Rpaids 2016
Photos
Credit and Property of © Copyright Major League Soccer. com
2016
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