From his view protecting the Colorado Rapids goal, Tim Howard has welcomed the improved passing, increased control, and points-producing performances from his teammates over the last month.
Holding their own during four matches in 15 days against Major League Soccer’s California teams, Colorado faces the Los Angeles Football Club on Sunday seeking 10 out of a possible 12 points in that stretch.
Home wins against the Galaxy and San Jose along with a draw on Tuesday at StubHub Center have lifted the Rapids into the class of teams vying to land an MLS playoff spot by digging out of an early-season hole.
With 10 matches remaining in the regular season, the Rapids’ rebuilt belief — since the start of July they have three more points than third-place LAFC (11-7-6, 39 points) — has prompted opponents to take notice of a team in second to last place in the Western Conference with 24 points, 11 shy of the number currently needed to make the cut.
Said LAFC head coach Bob Bradley: “We go in with respect for how they’re playing of late and a sense of the things we want to do well on the night.”
Coming off their first victory in six matches, a 2-0 tally at home against Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, the Black & Gold sit in third position in the Western Conference.
“It’s a home game for us so we always want to start with energy,” Bradley said. “We always want to try and put teams on our terms.”
That would mean preventing the Rapids from dominating passing and possession, which, Howard said, has keyed the Rapids (6-12-6).
In Colorado’s past three contests, the Rapids have completed 505, 593 and 605 passes respectively, while holding the ball nearly 60 percent of the time.
“I think we have to keep believing in what we’re doing and go to LAFC and not show them the respect we used to show teams going away from home,” said first-year Rapids’ manager Anthony Hudson, whose team is 1-7-3 on the road.
Working behind Hudson’s changing pieces, the 39-year-old Howard has remained a consistent and effective leader, starting 23 games and securing four shutouts so far in 2018.
Howard was named to the MLS team of the week in Colorado’s 2-1 victory over San Jose on Aug. 11, one week prior to the 20th anniversary of his MLS debut, and made his 150th appearance in the league during Tuesday’s 2-2 tie against the Galaxy.
Facing LAFC, which is third in the league in shots and fourth in goals, Howard should have chances to make an impact on a match that initially fell on the day that he earned a 4-1 victory over Colorado for the NY/NJ MetroStars in place of his suspended mentor Tony Meola. The match was pushed back a day to accommodate Rams and Raiders fans attending a preseason football game at the nearby Memorial Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.
“It feels like it’s been over two decades,” said Howard, the starting goalkeeper for the U.S. men’s national team during the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. “I’m very lucky and fortunate. A lot of people wish I’d hang it up but those are the amateurs. I’m still kicking. Still playing good football. I’m blessed to have played this long. I get opportunities and I take them.”
LAFC vs. COLORADO RAPIDS
Kickoff: 7 p.m.; Banc of California Stadium
TV: YouTube TV; UniMas
Radio: 710 AM, 980 AM
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