The Houston Dynamo close out the 2016 regular season on the road this Sunday afternoon against the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (3 p.m. CT; ROOT SPORTS).
The Rapids, currently second in the Western Conference (15-6-12, 57 points), still have a shot at claiming the Supporters’ Shield on Sunday. Colorado would need a win as well as an FC Dallas loss against the LA Galaxy in order to claim the regular season crown.
Colorado has been stellar at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in 2016, and is the only remaining team in MLS with an undefeated record at home (11-0-5). Perhaps more impressive is the fact that they have only allowed six goals all season in Commerce City. The Rapids picked up a 1-0 loss in Portland last weekend, halting a three-game winning streak that included a 3-2 win at BBVA Compass Stadium. That was the only prior meeting between the Rapids and Dynamo in 2016.
“[Rapids head coach] Pablo (Mastroeni) has done a good job to make sure that they are organized and that they all understand their roles and responsibilities. That’s a huge thing in this league,” Dynamo interim head coach Wade Barrett said of Colorado’s defensive prowess. “I think when players understand what’s asked of them it makes it pretty clear for them to go out and focus on exactly that. You can see they have good discipline and organization. You don’t give up that few of goals without having very clear plans put in place and the players really buying in and executing those plans.”
