Here's a challenge for you: Without looking, name the top goal-scorer for the Western Conference leading Colorado Rapids (3-3-0), a team that has scored 10 times in six games.
Cue the Jeopardy music.
A logical guess would be midfielder Christian Gomez, a former league MVP whom the Rapids acquired in the offseason from D.C. United. And that answer would be correct.
Another logical guess would be Herculez Gomez, Colorado's second-leading scorer last season. That, too, would be a correct answer.
We also would have accepted Terry Cooke, Colin Clark, Jose Burciaga Jr., Omar Cummings, John DiRaimondo, Facundo Erpen, Nick LaBrocca and Tom McManus. Now, that's you call a balanced attack. What might be even more surprising to some is that Fernando Clavijo's men have managed to get through the first month of the season without Jovan Kirovski (Colorado's leading scorer in '07 with six goals) and target man Conor Casey, who have both yet to play a minute this season due to injury.
There has been a different hero from nearly a different position every night. Of that group of 10 players who have scored for the Rapids, only two are forwards (McManus and Cummings). While Burciaga Jr. tends to play more like a midfielder at times, he and Erpen are defenders who have each come up with a single tally this season. Every player in this group was a starter in the match in which he scored.
Now, there might be something to be said when a team does not have a player with more than one goal through six games. With the exception of the San Jose Earthquakes (and they do not count as they have mustered a measly two goals thus far in their expansion season), every other team in the league has at least one player with two or more goals. But seeing as Colorado has managed to sustain an offense without two guys who have the potential to put the ball in the back of the net on a semi-regular basis (Casey hasn't shown much since arriving on the MLS stage last year after spending the first part of his professional career abroad) makes their early-season record look all that more impressive.
On Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel), the Rapids and their spread offense meet the Dynamo in Houston. Shockingly, Houston is the worst team in MLS. The Dynamo have yet to win a match this season (0-2-4) and have shown less punch then their minority owner. U.S. international Brian Ching and Canadian international Dwayne De Rosario have scored a grand total of ZERO goals this season. It's not for a lack of trying either, as De Ro has fired a team-high 23 shots, including nine on goal. Geoff Cameron, Franco Caraccio (2) and Brad Davis have scored all of Houston's four goals this season.
So long as Colorado continues to strike a balance on offense and gets continued strong play from goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul, the Rapids should avoid becoming Houston's first victim this season. Top Choice: Colorado
While it is tempting to lean on the Los Angeles Galaxy for this week's Best Bet in their match at The Home Depot Center against the New York Red Bulls, there's something about the combination of New York's early-season defense and L.A.'s inability to have anyone outside of David Beckham or Landon Donovan generate offense that scares us. Instead, there's an easier decision to make (at least on paper).
Also on Saturday (10 p.m ET), the Columbus Crew visit the San Jose Earthquakes at Buck Shaw Stadium. By all accounts, last week's opener at Buck Shaw was a success with the Quakes garnering a scoreless draw with FC Dallas. This week, they won't have such luck against a surprisingly solid Crew team that is currently the best in MLS (5-1-0). Alejandro Moreno, who had his best MLS season in San Jose in 2005 with eight goals and four assists in 31 games, has had a hot start for the Crew, scoring four goals this season. Robbie Rogers has also found the back of the net three times for Sigi Schmid's charges on a team-high 11 shots. While San Jose continues to boast a strong defense anchored by goalkeeper Joe Cannon, the Quakes' attack leaves much to be desired. Best Bet: Columbus