May 16, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Colorado Rapids News Release
It’s often claimed that games may be won by strikers, but championships are forged on a solid defense.
So, forget about the multi-million-dollar front men slotting the ball into the ol’ onion bag, or even the midfield maestros pulling the strings from the center of the park; successful sides start at the back, and that will be music to the ears of Rapids fans.
In 2016, when the Rapids fought their way to the Western Conference Championship game, they went unbeaten at home in the regular season for the first time with an 11-0-6 record. At DICK’S Sporting Goods Park, they gave up just seven goals in 17 games, at a league-record average 0.41 goals per game.
So far in 2022, the Rapids have given up only the one goal in six games. That goal was from the penalty spot, scored by Real Salt Lake. In other words, they have yet to concede in open play at home.
Averaging 0.16666667 goals against per home game, the Rapids could very well be even more stingy defensively than they were in 2016.
I’m sure head coach Robin Fraser will point to this being a collective effort. After all, we often see Diego Rubio, Jonathan Lewis, and – more recently – Gyasi Zardes pitching in defensively.
But those whose primary role is to protect the Rapids’ net are worthy of singling out.
Goalkeeper William Yarbrough has five shutouts this season – all at home. He has 22 in total, from 58 appearances. That is good enough for fifth on the club’s all-time list, one behind US legend Tim Howard, who managed his total from 100 appearances.
Yarbrough leads the club’s goalkeepers with an average of 1.10 goals against per game, followed by Bouna Coundoul (1.16), Joe Cannon (1.26), and Matt Pickens (1.27).
With Saturday’s 2-0 win over LAFC, Yarbrough also moved to the top of the win percentage pile – above Marcus Hahnemann – with his number sitting at 0.612. With Yarbrough in between the pipes, the Rapids boast a 27-14-17 record.
The back…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at OurSports Central Major League Soccer MLS News…