It certainly looks like a match between defensive juggernauts: Colorado managed five shots in the box, while Chicago only managed two. But while this might look like two defenses battling it out, but I don’t really think that’s the case. Instead, I think Chicago’s offense deserves more blame for their poor output than Colorado’s defense deserves credit, particularly since small blunders allowed those chances to occur. One came off a David Accam dribble right at starter Bobby Burling’s replacement, Eric Miller, and the other (the goal) came from a redirected Accam cross that found Joey Calistri unmarked in front of goal. In reality, the Rapids dominated possession 57-43, and while the Fire’s defense made 43 defensive actions, the Rapids only made 23, the fewest of any team on Saturday by eight. Of course, Chicago’s offense has been the worst in the league, so this is hardly a surprise. But while 0.88 xG for the Rapids doesn’t seem like very many chances too, I think it’s pretty good for a depleted Rapids offense going against a top-notch defense and ‘keeper.

Indeed, I thought something similar when a similarly-depleted Rapids offense tied the Union 1-1 before the Copa break, with another late defensive error leading to their only points dropped at home. Most impressive to me in these two games was Marlon Hairston. He struggled when he first came into the league, resulting in a temporary shift to defense, but he has proven himself these last two games as a reliable, attack-minded depth midfielder. Hairston assisted Sam Cronin’s goal against Philly, and nearly had another that Dillon Powers launched off the cross-bar. Against the Fire, Hairston had four of his team’s nine key passes (which lead directly to a shot), and nearly set up Michael Azira at the top of the six-yard box, which Azira was too slow to reach. Additionally, he easily had the best passing percentage of the three attacking midfielders (90% vs. 75% for Powers and 65% for Luis Solignac), and had the most threatening passing map of the three (check out the mlssoccer.com chalkboard to see what I mean). Shkelzen Gashi, Jermaine Jones, and Marco Pappa are hands down the three players that should be starting in these positions, but Rapids fans should delight at Hairston’s progress, as it shows that the team is truly becoming a well-rounded winning machine.

And if Pablo starts Solignac on the wing one more time, I’m going to lose my flippin’ mind.