Are you ready for the toughest test in the MLS west? The Colorado Rapids are one of the 2016 seasonās Cinderella stories, going from worst in the Western Conference last year, to neck-and-neck for first this one.
And the team with whom theyāve been fighting for that number-one slot in the standings? FC Dallas, who meet them in Commerce City on Saturday (9 pm ET; MLS LIVE). They just barely missed last yearās Supportersā Shield, and no doubt they're gunning hard for it again this year. In other words, neither of the leagueās top Western contenders are going down without a tooth-and-nail fight.
Here are three reasons why this game is essential viewing:
1. THE RAPIDSā REMARKABLE RUN: Itās going to take everything to topple Colorado on their home grounds, Dickās Sporting Goods Park. After a July 16 home win over Sporting Kansas City, theyāre currently enjoying an unbeaten run in MLS play of 14 matches, 10 of those at home.
2. CASTILLOāS COMEBACK TEAR: For a minute there, one might have been worried about FC Dallasā Fabian Castillo, when it seemed the standout Colombian had hit a lull, with just three assists and three goals in 17 games this season. Well, thatās over. This past MLS weekend, he served up this jaw-dropping rabona to assist in a Maxi Urruti goalāonly to later assist on another goal, the teamās third, finished by Mauro Diaz. Anyone on the wrong side of seeing him barrel down the flank should be very, very scared.
3. IT AINāT OVER UNTIL...: Nobody can rest easy early onāboth of these teams excel at some late-game theatrics. Case in point: The Rapidsā last home game on July 16, vs. Sporting Kansas City. Things stayed tied 0-0 all the way up to the 78th minute, when Coloradoās Marlon Hairston finished a Dillon Powers pass.
And Dallas, for their part, kept the scoring going into stoppage time vs. the Chicago Fire on the same night. However things are going, youāll want to stay tuned until the clock winds completely down.