Post Game: Vancouver

By Brian Jennings

Colorado suffered another late-game nail-biter loss Friday night even as the offensive output started showing itself in the form of Shkelzen Gashi, Kevin Doyle, Alan Gordon, and Mohammed Saeid.  However, an unlikely counter-attack springing substitute Break Shea one-on-one with Tim Howard saw his shot get through Howard’s touch and legs for the game winner.

The second half was when Colorado seemed to really grab hold of the tempo of the match after moving the ball well in the first 45 minutes but not getting a solid look on Vancouver’s goal.  Asked what started to click and Saeid told The Voice of C38, “The game opened up a little more in the second half.  Secondly, I think we did good finding the balls inbetween the lines to Gashi, Gordo, Doyle, me, and from there we could dictate even more and keep the ball on the other side of the field.”

“Obviously with Gashi back, with Doyle and Gordo up front, when you have these kind of experienced players up front it helps the team to keep the ball up front, to try and circulate, and create chances.”

The Rapids thought they scored the go-ahead goal off pressure from Alan Gordon in front of goal, provided by a nice chipped cross from Mekeil Williams,  of which forced defender Jordan Harvey to direct the ball towards his own goal.  In a matter of inches the ball hit off the inside of the post, ran along the goalmouth, and was fingertipped away by David Ousted to keep the game scoreless.

“We moved the ball pretty well,” said Saeid.  “Even in the second half there was part of the game we dictated.  We had most of the possession, maybe didn’t create very good chances but we’re getting opportunities and that’s what important right now and hopefully next time we’ll put them away.”

He also tells fans that he feels things getting closer to a win even though Colorado suffered its fifth loss in a row.  “I would say so and each game it’s getting better.  I think we had more of an offensive threat in this game.  It’s unfortunate we lost the game but there’s a lot of positives from this.”

Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni also hasn’t given up hope seeing the confidence and willingness to take chances increase from the Rapids week to week.   “We need to worry about one training session at a time and one game at a time. We don’t want pity, we want to go out and earn our respect,” he told The Voice of C38 in the postgame press conference.  “The game of football is about moments and about capitalizing on those moments. When you’re confident and when you’re brave, those moments come more frequently and come in areas of the field that can affect the game.”