Written By: Riccardo Cominelli
A windy midweek MLS Western Conference showdown in Commerce City, Colorado brought Rapids fans back at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to bolster their team towards another home win, but this time against the Seattle Sounders. Unfortunately for fans and supporters, the Colorado Rapids fell short to the Seattle Sounders stopping the Rapids from another home win. The final score at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park was the Colorado Rapids 1-2 Seattle Sounders.
The Sounders were first to get on the board thanks to a first-half goal from Leo Chu in the 34th minute. Chu aggressively dribbled from the left-hand side of the box and cut to take a far post shot that with so much power got past Marko Ilic. The Rapids would go into halftime down 1-0.
The Sounders would find another goal in the 56th minute thanks to Albert Rusnak. A lovely cross played into the Rapids box finds Rusnak crashing in at the top of the six and slots his header into the back of the net. The Sounders at this point were comfortably celebrating a road win.
The Seattle Sounders did take their foot off the gas which led to Colorado finding more opportunities in the match. In the 79th minute, Cole Bassett was able to pull a goal back for the Colorado Rapids. A half-volley hit with so much pace and power goes past Stefan Frei.
Although a late goal from Bassett and the fans cheering loudly in support of their team, it was not enough to generate a comeback and salvage just one point.
Lineups
Colorado Rapids (4-2-3-1): Marko Ilic (GK); Keegan Rosenberry, Moise Bombito, Andreas Maxso, Andrew Gutman; Connor Ronan & Sydnei Tavares; Kevin Cabral, Cole Bassett, Calvin Harris; Rafael Navarro
Substitutions
- Sydnei Tavares OUT – Ralph Priso IN
- Kevin Cabral OUT – Luis Diaz IN
- Calvin Harris OUT – Braian Galvan IN
- Rafael Navarro OUT – Darren Yapi IN
- Connor Ronan OUT – Diego Rubio IN
Seattle Sounders (4-2-3-1): Stefan Frei (GK); Tolo Nouhou, Yelmar Gomez, Jackson Ragen, Alex Roldan; Joao Paulo & Joshua Atencio; Cristian Roldan, Albert Rusnak, Leo Chu; Jordan Morris
Substitutions
- Cristian Roldan OUT – Obed Vargas IN
- Tolo Nouhou OUT – Xavier Arreaga IN
- Leo Chu OUT – Nicolas Lodeiro IN
- Joao Paolo OUT – Reed Baker-Whiting IN
Up Ahead
The Colorado Rapids will head back on the road for a weekend match-up against the Portland Timbers. The Timbers now sit in a playoff spot, 8th in the Western Conference, while the Rapids are in 14th and out of a playoff spot. At the end of the summer, the Rapids traded Bryan Acosta to the Portland Timbers.
OPINION
The Colorado Rapids have an opportunity for a rare road win here. If they are able to play defensively well all of the game and limit their mistakes to nonthreatening situations they can make the most of their offensive opportunities. In those opportunities making sure that possession is being prioritized and passes are not being forced or wasted. The Rapids can walk away with a 1-0 win and take the three points back home. Rafael Navarro will need to step up to make the most of his chances and open his Rapids scoring. Braian Galvan and Calvin Harris will need to work harder to provide for their team the way Cole
Bassett has. Hopefully, Diego Rubio can be used as a weapon off the bench.
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