FRISCO, TX – FC Dallas hosted Colorado Rapids in the opening game of their MLS regular season. Dallas were trying out a new formation, playing in a 5-2-3/3-4-2-1 under manager Luchi Gonzalez. Colorado were without Sam Vines so Kellyn Acosta started at left back.
Jimmy Mauer MOTM as FC Dallas Draws Colorado Rapids 0-0
The first half had some exciting chances but no goals. Dallas worked on the counter attack with space and tried to find Franco Jara in the box. Colorado played down the left flank through Acosta and Andre Shinyashiki. Both teams had moments in transition.
Just minutes into the game, Ryan Hollingshead got his head onto a cross that was cleared off the line by Jack Price. Colorado’s best chance came on the 30 minute mark. Barrios danced his way open in the box, but shot just wide of the right post.
Goalkeeper made a great diving save on a corner header by Danny Wilson in the 18th minute. The half ended 0-0.
Wilson had another chance on a corner moments into the second half but he was off balance and the shot was off target. The game slowed down and the chanced dried up after that. Dallas had more of the ball; both teams knocked the ball around the backline then played direct.
Jara has the best chance for the home side on an open header in the 63rd minute, but it was from a tough angle and the shot went out for a goal kick.
Barrios nearly scored 1-v-1 with the keeper on the counter attack with 11 minutes to go. The match ended 0-0 with Dallas pinning Colorado deep.
.@JimsMaurer denies his former teammate of the potential winner! ✖️ #DALvCOL pic.twitter.com/MfV4AwLb5b
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 18, 2021
Three Key Takeaways:
Early Season Finishing: Both teams had trouble finishing. Barrios and Jara in particular had several looks. Ironically, the center backs on corners tested the keepers the most. Jimmy Mauer was superb in several key moments and was my MOTM.
Jara-Wilson duel: Jara for Dallas and Wilson for Colorado had some good battles for the ball in the first half. It got a bit chippy in the second half. The Rapids won that battle within the war with Wilson limiting Jara and Jara’s inability to finish.
Siege defending: Other than the Barrios chance, Colorado’s offense dried up in the final 40 minutes. The emergency defending did the job to earn the point. Dallas also grew into the match, getting more comfortable in the new system.
