A New Man Between the Pipes...

As is often seen in MLS, one player's misfortune is another's gain. Saturday night in the 10th minute of play, Colorado Rapids keeper, Joe Cannon, went down on the wet pitch with a strained groin. Every Rapids fan watching the game held their breath as he was taken off the field. Step in Bouna Coundoul, a former All-New York City Goalkeeper of the Year. Bouna has been impressive in reserve matches and people who have seen him call him Spiderman. However, Joe Cannon is arguably the best keeper in MLS and has saved this team more times then I care to count. No one wants to see a player of Cannon's quality injured, but there is a side of me excited to see the reserve keeper get a chance.

If Coundoul lives up to the hype he will be a strong replacement for Cannon. Bouna's name isn't on everyone's lips around the league. He didn't get drafted, he hasn't played for a youth national team and he isn't getting training time with any national team. That hasn't stopped him from working hard knowing that last Saturday's chance would come. Now we have to wait and see how many chances he'll get this season. Did he perform well enough to get the start this weekend assuming Cannon can't make it back?

The Rapids do have a third keeper on the roster, Matt Jordan, however he is also injured. There is a good chance we'll see former Rapid, Byron Foss backing up Coundoul this weekend since the Rapids still hold his rights.

Coundoul is originally from Dakar, Senegal but he is now a U.S. Permanent Resident. He played for the University of Albany before joining the Rapids as a developmental player. As his career continues to grow he'll prove that not all of MLS must come up through the top programs and youth national teams.