It was the result least expected, and it turned out to be the result most impressive as well. Winless on the year, scoreless since last October, the Colorado Rapids went on the road and crushed FC Dallas 4-0 on Friday night.
They did it mostly with youth, as fine strikes from rookie Dominique Badji, third-year pro Dillon Powers and Homegrown Player Dillon Serna highlighted the rout, with Badji and Powers both earning spots on the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week.
Read on to find out who else made the team:
GK: Jaime Penedo (LA Galaxy) - Made 10 saves, more than half of them top-caliber, almost single-handedly ensuring Seattle left LA with nothing despite what Brad Evans called “their best game this year.”
D: Marvell Wynne (San Jose Earthquakes) – Contained Kekuta Manneh all night, not allowing the young star to create anything of value as the Quakes beat Vancouver 1-0.
D: Jamison Olave (Real Salt Lake) – Was physical and active from the onset to help Real Salt Lake’s defense hold off Sporting KC’s waves of pressure as RSL got a point in Kansas City.
D: Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes) – The veteran was in the right spot all night, not allowing Octavio Rivero to take a shot the whole game.
D: Brek Shea (Orlando City) - Turning into a beast at left back. Got forward well yet again and did well to contain the Timbers down his flank as Orlando City won 2-0.
M: Lloyd Sam (New York Red Bulls) – Aside from his opportunistic late leveler, RBNY's flying winger was sharp and menacing going forward all evening in D.C., as the Red Bulls came from behind to tie their Atlantic Cup rivals.
M: Dillon Powers (Colorado Rapids) – Set up the first goal with a pinpoint cross and then scored on a play brimming with individual talent as the Rapids demolished FC Dallas 4-0.
M: Perry Kitchen (D.C. United) – Two goals, both of them dispatched clinically and authoritatively, were the unexpected highlights of his performance. What wasn't surprising was his usual contribution of range and steel in deep midfield.
M: Rob Lovejoy (Houston Dynamo) – The rookie provided a spark off the bench, creating havoc down the left, which resulted in a goal and an assist in the Dynamo's 3-0 win.
F: Giles Barnes (Houston Dynamo) – The Englishman came out to play on Saturday night. He was dangerous all night, taking six shots and using a flicked header to score Houston's opener.
F: Dominique Badji (Colorado Rapids) – Badji's work up front was tremendous all game, hounding the Dallas back line. Of course, it started with a goal in the 2nd minute.
Coach: Adrian Heath (Orlando City) – After some disappointing losses, Heath's team came to Portland to play and took home three points.
Bench:Tyler Deric (Houston Dynamo), Seb Hines (Orlando City), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls), Vincent Nogueira (Philadelphia Union), Matias Perez Garcia (San Jose Earthquakes), Cyle Larin (Orlando City)
