The Colorado Rapids are back in the playoffs, and we have an entire international break to collect ourselves - and exhaust ourselves with hype and anticipation - before the Round One matchup against familiar foe Minnesota United FC. We’ll get to previewing that match in-depth later this week but, first, wanted to zoom out and take a bird’s eye view of the rest of the Western Conference.
There are scintillating storylines and intrigue in every game. Worst-to-first Sporting KC are up against 2020’s mayhem club, the San Jose Earthquakes; the MLS is Back Tournament winners Portland Timbers are looking for their second tournament victory of 2020, hosting a stingy FC Dallas side; defending MLS Cup champs Seattle begin their title defense, welcoming an LAFC side that scored more goals than anybody else and just got back Carlos Vela.