Whale of a Comeback: Rapids Three Goal Comeback to Draw Seattle

Seattle, Washington – For the first time ever in MLS, the Seattle Sounders have gotten a three goal lead and not won a game. On a night that debuted the Orka Kit, it was a whale of a comeback. Colorado Rapids drew some penalties, stuck with it, and overcame mistakes to put good run of form going into their All-Star Break.

Chris Armas ran the same lineup as last game. Connor Ronan and Cole Bassett were in the double pivot in a 4-2-3-1. Chido Awaziem started at center back despite rumors about his departure. Rafael Navarro was up top.

For Seattle, they had some changes at the back. Jon Bell started at left back with Nouhou Tolo suspended for this last game. Stefan Frei was injured so Andrew Thomas was in goal. Albert Rusnak was at the 10 with Danny Musovski up top.

The Orca Kit did the trick as Seattle started brightly. They were a step quicker to Colorado and active off the ball. Colorado spent much of the first half reacting and making slightly off passes that made it difficult.

The home side deservedly went ahead in the 16th minute, albeit with some luck. Seattle pinged it across the field where Rusnak eventually got on the ball. He took a heavy touch and left it for Obed Vargas who shot first time. The ball took a touch off captain Andreas Maxsø and rolled in. Steffen was caught flat footed. Armas said postgame that Steffen was playing sick, which could have been a factor in his performance.

Rusnak made it 2-0 in the 43rd minute. Steffen was pressed as he tried to clear a ball. He shanked it a bit. Jackson Ragen had a great header to set up Rusnak for the shot. Rusnak half volleyed from 30 yards out. Steffen was slow to get back to goal and the ball went into an empty net.

Colorado had a decent spell between the goals but were denied. Wingers Calvin Harris and Ted Ku-DiPietro both had good chances that were blocked. In the 38th, Ronan had a shot from outside the box that wizzed for the top corner but was saved. The Rapids press had its moments especially when Seattle got stuck in the corner in their own half.

Sounders appeared to put the game away two minutes into the second half. Colorado’s defense was chasing the ball and shifted too far to one side. Musovski found Rusnak with time and space and he snuck it past Steffen bottom left corner. It was 3-0 with 43 minutes to go.

It took the Rapids miraculously just 6 minutes to get back into the game. First Navarro pressed Cristian Roldan, timing a touch on a ball coming down perfectly. He was clipped and Lorenzo Hernandez called the penalty. Djordje Mihailović took it and scored after misses vs Sporting and at San Diego.

Three minutes later, Navarro beat Thomas to the ball and won a second PK. Cole Bassett took his first spot kick of the year, going to the side opposite Mihailović to make it 3-2.

The game got stretched with Colorado tenacious and Seattle appearing a bit rattled. Reggie Cannon had a great look but shot right at the keeper. Jordan Morris subbed on and was a handful.

With the match in the balance, Darren Yapi scored possibly his most technical goal of his career in the 75th. Navarro made a run into space out wide and found Mihailović at the top of the box. Djordje tapped it to Yapi, who dribbled through two defenders and nutmegged the keeper to tie the match 3-3.

Colorado had two great counter attack situations in the 10 minutes of stoppage time. They just ran out of gas on poor passes. Bassett rushed things on the first one. Navarro had a pass deflected under duress on the second. They were more defensive as Seattle pushed for the winner. Neither team found one and the match ended in a draw.

New England in Reverse:

Eighteen days prior, Colorado Rapids were up 3-0 in the second half at New England Revolution. They fumbled the bag to draw 3-3. It was their first blown three-goal lead in club history. Tonight is the first time Seattle were up three goals in a game and did not win.

The first 47 minutes were Colorado at Portland or LAFC bad. A step too slow. Couldn’t hold the ball. Constantly under pressure. Waiting to get blown out. They stick with it. The 4-2-3-1 has given them some defensive structure while having two midfielder who want the ball. Ronan passes for distance. Bassett drives. They draw two quick penalties then show maturity in getting the result. MLS is chaos. This young Rapids team is learning how to climb that ladder.

“It’s a night that we can fell really proud of the team. They show a lot of character and heart and grit. Djordje’s leadership to pass one on to Cole I thought was a big moment. Only team in history to be down three goals in this building and get a result. A well earned point. We were clear coming into the night with Mihailović that it’s his decision. He would be given the ball. We trust the guys. Good problem to have. We led the league in penalties last year and I think we’re doing it again this year. Glad both guys stepped up and scored,” Armas told Burgundy Wave.

“Would have loved to get a fourth. You saw a couple moments there in transition and tried to get a fourth. We were pretty cooked. We could execute those better,” Bassett added.

The PK Plot Thickens:

BW staff have no idea who will or should take the next penalty the Rapids take. The players might not know until a minute after the next PK is called. The 4th of July match saw Mihailović draw a penalty then miss it. Later in that game, Navarro took one and made it. Saturday vs Vancouver, Navarro missed. This game saw Djordje make then three minutes later, Cole Bassett took his first of the year and scored.

Colorado clearly has three players the coaching staff is comfortable with. The tape is out on what Mihailović and Navarro do. Could they change it up? Come up with a Plan B? Probably. Bassett was emphatic with his finish.

It’s interesting that the coaching staff has a play before the game then gives the players flexibility to decide on the field. Tonight it worked. Let’s see if that continues. This team will continue to “force the coincidence” as Armas likes to say.

Yapi Hour, Bassett Rising:

It was a great night for Bassett and Yapi. Cole has now had two games with Ronan in midfield where he’s played well and looked like his 2024 self. The PK was just his second goal of the season and 30th for the Rapids first team. As we have written before, getting him going is critical for this team’s success.

“You love seeing the ball hit the back of the net. I just need that feeling again. Too long for me. Before the game I thought I was going to be on them full-time. We made a decision with the coach that Djordje was going to be on them. For them (Mihalović and Navarro) to both give it to me was big. It shows the togetherness. Hopefully it can spark a few more. I just need to see it hit the net once. Hopefully now there’s a lot more open play goals,” Bassett said.

“It’s always about a rhythm for Cole. Staying healthy, then you can play into your sharpness. When he’s that deep lying midfielder, he can help could our attacks from deeper areas,” said Armas.

For Yapi, he’s become a gamer. He’s got that dog in him. He’s still having to fight for minutes but he’s making an impact. It’s been a year since his first MLS goal, a garbage time goal against St. Louis. Since then, every goal he’s scored has either gotten the Rapids back into the game or been the decisive score to get a result. That Leagues Cup goal against Toluca. The winner at Dallas. He is the reason the team won that game against San Diego.

“His goals keep getting better. His composer in the box to be able to keep maneuvering the ball until he gets his angle and puts it through the defense. He’s huge for us right now,” Bassett said of his fellow Homegrown.

“He’s had two assist in New England. He’s waited for his time (since then). He comes in off the bench and has that moment. That shows his true character. A true moment of growth.”

Colorado maybe got a bit lucky with the officials on the night. That first PK might have been a bit soft. No question the second one was valid. The crowd was mad about some yellow cards and time wasting. Colorado was called for 11 fouls to Seattle’s 8. Yellows were 5-4. That Ragen yellow was harsh. So was 10 minutes of stoppage time. Djordje worked the ref on that injury scare. Fair play.

Also, Atencio came on in the 63rd minute. Played fine. Sure this game meant a lot to him given it was his first ever return to Seattle.

Photo Credit: Colorado Rapids

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