Colorado Rapids vs. Houston Dynamo - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Life as a Colorado Rapids supporter is never easy but it is certainly never boring.  After defeating Montreal Impact 4-1 a week ago, the Rapids faced another Eastern Conference team in the Houston Dynamo.  Although the Dynamo were missing a few key players, the Rapids have been so up and down on the year, that nothing would have been too shocking out of Dick's Sporting Goods Park.  Well the Burgundy Boys delivered and offered up a glimpse of what could be if this run of form continues.

Here is The Good, The Bad, The Ugly--Colorado Rapids, Round 14

The Good--Scoring Strikers

The Rapids strikers have taken a fair amount of grief for their lack of finishing and poor play, but things appear to be slowly changing.  Deshorn Brown offered up a brace on the evening and his fellow striker, Dillon Powers (yes, I know he is a midfielder), pulled through with two assists.  The offense was flowing from the midfield which helped Powers and Brown put balls on frame.  The Rapids do better when the ball starts from the defensive midfield role and pushes forward rather than the long ball.

The Bad Good, Part II--The Resurgence

It is been said over and over again, but Kamani Hill is a new man under Pablo Mastroeni.  He has two magnificent goals in as many weeks and is showing that he tactically fits the '4-4-2' that the Rapids have been featuring this year.  His goals have both been spectacular, but more importantly is he is putting in a solid 90 minute shift both on offense and defense.  And to hear the crowd chant "Kamani Hill" after his goal is vindication for the hard work and effort he is putting in.

The Ugly--Is It A Mirage?

For as good as a +6 goal differential looks in their last two, it can't be said that the Rapids have played the toughest of competition the last two weeks.  The Impact and the Dynamo are not in the best of form and this could be contributing to the Rapids scoring prowess.  So the run of form certainly could be a mirage, but it is not the Rapids fault that they are pounding lesser opponents.  They have to take advantage of what is in front of them and they are doing that.

The Rapids are back in action this Wednesday against Chicago Fire and travel to Dallas to battle Oscar Pareja's new team for the first time in 2014.  The Burgundy Boys are halfway to a possible 12 point week which seemed improbable after their two game losing streak.  But with the run of form, resurgent veterans and a favorable schedule, it is entirely possible that the Rapids could enter the World Cup Break riding a four game winning streak.