Post-Game: Seattle

By: Michael Sandoval

The Colorado Rapids have had four home games this season and have won all of them.  Seattle came in Saturday night hoping to put the first blemish on that record but were unable to, losing to our burgundy boys 3-1 in their first meeting this season.  Despite missing Marco Pappa due to injury, and losing Marc Burch in the warm-ups, the Rapids controlled the majority of the game and gave the Sounders very little in the final third.  

Seattle would get the first chance of the game however, a rebound fell to Andreas Ivanschitz in the 11^th minute who was alone inside the eighteen and had the entire net to shoot at, but fortunately for Rapids faithful he would send his shot way over the crossbar.  

This miss was a big moment in the game as Jermaine Jones embarrassed his critics once again in the 20^th minute as he was able to get free on a set piece and headed home a Shkelzen Gashi cross.  Jones managed to keep the ball down, guiding into the corner passed Stefan Frei.  The World Cup veteran would receive a yellow card after taking his shirt off during his celebration, a hand written shout out to his twin boys whose birthdays were on Saturday.  I’m not a father myself but I’m sure dads around the stadium, and some sons, appreciated the gesture.  Yellow card well worth it.

Fellow World Cup veteran Herculez Gomez got a chance to equalize in the 31^st minute with a driven header but Zac MacMath was equal to the shot, striking his hand out with cat like reflexes to deny the Seattle striker.  The half would end with Colorado leading 1-0 but didn’t seem the for sure winners yet.

It wasn’t until the 51^st minute the Rapids seemed well in control of the game.  Mekeil Williams would find a sprinting Dominique Badji down the east sidelines who in turn set up Luis Solignac for his third goal of the season.  The two goal cushion took some edge out of the game, Seattle to this point hadn’t gotten much forward and didn’t show any signs of vamping up their attack. 

That is until the 63^rd minute.  Jordan Morris would collect a cross on the far side of the penalty area, dragged his defender a step or two and then fire homed a shot to the far post.  The ball went through a crowd before going in, giving MacMath little time to react.  Just like that it was a game again.

Colorado had a golden opportunity in the 67^th to reestablish their 2 goal lead when they were rewarded with a penalty kick.  Gomez bear hugged the giant that is Bobby Burling until he took him down (honestly how else was Herc supposed to defend him…have you seen Burling, I did once, still have neck problems trying to look that high) leaving the referee no choice but to give the PK.  Gashi and Jones would politely discuss who would take it, an argument Gashi wishes he had lost since his shot was well blocked by a diving Frei. (Believe Jones will have final world come the next PK discussion)

The missed PK wouldn’t harm the Rapids, Kevin Doyle would make his return (coming in for Badji in the 78^th) and cap it off with a goal in the 86^th minute.  The Irishman would get a toe on the cross from fellow substitute Dennis Castillo, tipping the ball over the Sounder’s keeper.        

The Rapids scored three goals for the first time this season and remained perfect at home.  The result was good enough to push the Rapids up to 2^nd in the MLS, one point behind FC Dallas who have played one more game then Colorado.  The critics and “analysis” can’t ignore the Rapids much longer, our wins have come against big clubs (Toronto, LA, Sporting, Red Bulls, and now Seattle) and have dropped points in two games because of goalkeeping errors.  Colorado is the real deal, no doubts about it.  If you’re not watching yet, start!  Or you’ll miss something big!  Next game is against the Montreal Impact on Saturday at 2pm.

Colorado Rapids: Zac MacMath, Eric Miller (Dennis Castillo 60’), Bobby Burling, Axel Sjoberg, Mekeil Williams, Micheal Azira, Sam Cronin, Jermaine Jones (Dillon Powers 87’), Dominique Badji (Kevin Doyle 78’), Shkelzen Gashi, Luis Solignac.
Subs not used: Chris Froschauer, Dillon Serna, Conor Doyle.

Seattle Sounders FC: Stefan Frei, Tyrone Mears, Brad Evans, Chad Marshall, Joevin Jones, Andreas Ivanschitz (Erik Friberg 50’), Cristian Roldan, Osvaldo Alonso, Herculez Gomez (Aaron Kovar 71’), Oalex Anderson (Dylan Remick 77’), Jordan Morris.
Subs not used: Tyler Miller, Oniel Fisher, Zach Scott, Darwin Jones.