Reality Check: Sounders Beat Rapids 2-1

COMMERCE CITY – Colorado Rapids hosted Seattle Sounders on Wednesday night. The home side had a renewed spirit off a win under a new coach. Would it be enough to get a result or would Sounders beat Rapids because they’re just a better team?

Interim manager Chris Little had an unchanged starting lineup from Saturday. Luis Díaz made the bench for the first time as a Burgundy Boy. Danny Leyva was eligible for selection and on the bench against his former club. For the visitors, Raúl Ruidíaz was injured, so Jordan Morris started with Léo Chú at left wing.

For the first time since 2018, Seattle were the better team in the first half in Commerce City. Colorado’s press clogged up the middle but left space out wide. Morris had a glancing header in the opening minutes. Albert Rusnák had multiple chances in transition. Colorado was not good enough on the ball.

Finally, Seattle got the goal they deserved on 34 minutes. Chú received the ball from João Paulo off a turnover on the touchline. He dribbled into space, getting past Keegan Rosenberry, and picked out the far bottom corner.

Little made a sub at halftime, bringing on Ralph Priso for Tavares, who was underwhelming. Sounders made it 2-0 in the 56th. Cristian Roldan did well to get past Gutman and sent a cross into the middle of the box. Rusnák was open in the box and headed it into the back of the net with ease.

Colorado tried to shake things up with a triple sub in the 62nd. Díaz made his debut for the club, coming on with Diego Rubio and Braian Galván. Bassett proceeded to take set pieces with Ronan off.

Cole Bassett pulled one back with 10 minutes to go, pouncing on a loose ball in the box for the first time finish. The comeback would go unfinished as the match ended 1-2.

Reality check on new coach bump:

I had some doubt about Saturday’s win being a false positive given the chaos going on at New England Revolution. Seattle were clearly the better team from the start of the game. They were able to break down an improved Colorado defense. They were sharper than Colorado on the ball, on 50/50s, and more. They showed quality on their goals.

“We lacked the energy and the intensity you need to play in games at home. We were second best in terms of winning first balls, second balls. Never quite earned the right to play in the game. That didn’t change really till the last 20 minutes,” said Little.

“I don’t know what it is with us. We’re not coming out with enough aggression and energy,” Bassett lamented like a broken record.

Sounders beat Rapids because they’re a more talented team. They can overcome tactical issues. Maximum effort from Colorado wasn’t going to overcome that.

Tavares halftime sub, not good:

Sidnei Tavares was again an early sub. He was poor in the first half, again. He did not match up to the physicality when challenged by Seattle players. Like the rest of the team, he did nothing in the final third in the first half. He’s good on the ball in space. The 21-year-old was at fault on the goal, as he left space for Chú to dribble and did not step to help Rosenberry.

“Sidnei had an illness, actually. We were advised to bring him off at halftime. He wasn’t well enough to continue. I don’t know any more about it at the moment,” Little told Burgundy Wave.

Priso was a bright spot after he got settled in the second half.

Same old possession problems:

Once Seattle got their goal, the second half was always going to be tough. They sat back at times, asking Colorado to be good in possession and break to them down. This Rapids team just isn’t good enough on the ball. They needed to be to get a result.

“There’s times to me where they have too much space. Whenever I’m in midfield, I don’t have that kind of time and space,” said Bassett.

“We’re quite free in our play right now. It’s not as tactical as it was before. Right now we’re not a possession based team. We want to try to hit teams in transition. For us as midfielders, when we do get a chance to keep the ball, we need to be the ones to dictate tempo.”

“You earn the right to play by competing for balls. Doing the dirty work that goes unnoticed. Ralph Priso helped change that in the second half,” Little added.

It was great to see Bassett score again. This team does not repeatedly create good chances against teams with numbers behind the ball. Eleven shots, two on goal, 0.5 Expected Goals, and the majority of that coming after it was 2-0. This team’s just not good enough to do what they’re trying to. They rarely earn the right to play, as Little put it.

Paper Bag SZN:

The announced attendance was just 12,548. The supporters sections were at best half full. There was plenty of black clothing in the crowd. C38 had no significant walkout. That said a few fans on the west side had paper bags over their heads at times. The fans are making it clear how they feel about the season in their attendance and how they conduct themselves in the stands.

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken.

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