COMMERCE CITY — Zac MacMath knew the expiration date: July 4, 2016. That was the day he would be demoted.
After the Rapids announced in March that U.S. international goalkeeper Tim Howard would be joining them when the summer transfer window opened, the clock started ticking down for MacMath.
“I kind of knew at that time no matter what I was going to do on the field, it was inevitable that he was going to play,” MacMath said Wednesday.
MacMath had a couple shaky moments immediately after the announcement but found his form quickly, leading Colorado to a 9-2-5 record, the best in Major League Soccer. He was in goal for the first 11 games of the Rapids-record 15-match unbeaten streak and still leads MLS in goals-against average (0.69).
MacMath, who turns 25 on Sunday, believes he played well enough to earn the starting job.
“It’s frustrating, no doubt,” he said. “A tough couple weeks of adjustment. But at the same time, that’s the name of the game. That’s kind of the business that we play in.”
The summer transfer window slammed shut Wednesday, but not before the Rapids made two deadline-beating moves. They sent Argentine striker Luis Solignac to the Chicago Fire for general allocation money and acquired midfielder Sebastien Le Toux from the Philadelphia Union for general allocation money.
MacMath still calls Colorado home, even though he said he had a desire to be transferred to a club where he could be a starter.
“There was a team interested,” he said, “but the Rapids denied that at the last second, which that’s their right, I’m their player.”
MacMath said he is happy to be with the Rapids this year. But with Howard signed through 2019, he doesn’t see himself in Colorado long term and plans to look at his options when the season ends.
Through five matches, Howard has allowed an average of nearly a goal per game more than MacMath. But Howard’s stats are skewed because he allowed five goals last weekend at Eastern Conference-leading New York City FC — a game Colorado played a man down for more than half the contest after midfielder Micheal Azira was sent off.
Colorado goalkeepers coach Chris Sharpe quickly dismissed any notion that the team has a goalkeeping controversy on its hands.
“Absolutely not,” Sharpe said. “When you look at things statistically — goals-against average — it’s an 11-guys-on-the-field thing. I don’t look at it as one goalkeeper.”
Sharpe said Howard has brought leadership and experience to the Rapids. Sharpe also praised the growth he has seen from MacMath since he joined the Rapids in 2015. While playing behind goalkeeper Clint Irwin last year, MacMath made improvements to his footwork, handling, thought process and overall cleanliness, Sharpe said.
“His growth has been tremendous,” Sharpe said. “He’s in the best form this year that he’s been in his career.”
Now MacMath finds himself behind arguably the greatest American goalkeeper of all time, affording him another opportunity for growth.
“He’ll be wonderful for Zac as far as being a presence, a learning experience for Zac, seeing how Tim is day in and day out,” Sharpe said. “And Zac will be wonderful for Tim because I believe — and you saw it last year with Clint — that you need two very good goalkeepers to push each other day in and day out, and that’s what we have.”
Howard has been in MacMath’s shoes — albeit on a much larger stage. More than a decade ago, Howard was demoted at Manchester United behind Dutch great Edwin van der Sar.
“As (mad) as I was and annoyed that I wasn’t playing, I took the opportunity to learn,” Howard said. “I knew that it would pay dividends down the road, and by God it certainly has. I learned a lot from him from watching his technique, from watching how he played in big games, but that onus is on the individual.”
MacMath said he has taken the opportunity over the last month to watch Howard’s professionalism, but doesn’t think he can pick up much in the way of technique that will translate to his game.
“Not really, because we’re two different kind of goalkeepers,” MacMath said. “He’s very athletic and he’s a lot quicker than I am. And I have to use my positioning more.”
With 13 games remaining, the Rapids are in second place in the Western Conference and, with the best defense in MLS, have a legitimate shot at winning some silverware this season.
“The team’s had a wonderful start to the season. Zac’s had a wonderful start to the season,” Sharpe said. “We’ve got the best goalkeeping corps in the league.”
