Don’t look now, but the Colorado Rapids are a good team
An identity is beginning to form for the Colorado Rapids, who churned out a 2-0 win at FC Cincinnati over the weekend. Not always pretty and sometimes outplayed, the Rapids did what they needed to do to get three points on the road.
The Colorado Rapids are proving to be a tough out and a cohesive team in both their defense but also in the attacking third. This is a well-coached team and one that very quietly is putting together results.
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With the win, head coach Robin Fraser has navigated his team to a 5-2-1 record and 16 points as they sit in third place in the Western Conference and fourth in the entire league.
“Just really proud of the team. Really, really great and tough environment. We haven’t seen a crowd like this since the first game of 2020,” Fraser told reporters after the match.
“To come in and deal with some conditions, heat and humidity, obviously a team that’s hungry, I thought we did a really good job of negating some of their strengths early on and really creating some decent opportunities. And then second half, once we had a lead, it was about making sure we were being quite resolute in defending it. I was really proud of the effort and certainly to get the second goal was really a boost for us and helped us get over the line.”
A Diego Rubio goal in the 21st minute gave the Colorado Rapids a first half lead. Attacker Jonathan Lewis doubled the lead in the 72nd minute, converting on a Jack Price feed. For Price, it was his fourth assist of the season, a team high. Lewis’ goal was his first of the season.
The Colorado Rapids earned their second road win of the season at TQL Stadium, another point that underscores their growth as a club. This is a team with an identity.
(Atlanta United should take note).
Last year under Fraser, the Rapids returned to the MLS Cup playoffs for the first time since 2016. They are still a relatively young team but they are getting contributions from veterans such as the 28-year old Rubio, who is consistently turning in solid performances for the Rapids this season.
As the road side, the Colorado Rapids lost the battle of possession, as FC Cincinnati held the ball for 54 percent of the match and the visitors were also outshot (22:7). The same can be said for shots on goal, where FC Cincinnati had a clear edge (7:2).
But the Colorado Rapids were clinical when it mattered, such as Lewis coolly converting midway through the second half.
“I know I made the first run and I ended up being offside so I needed to recycle my run. I knew that once he started driving that it was going to open up the space and for me, those are angles that I’ve always thought I’m pretty good at finishing, whether it’s on my left or right foot,” Lewis said about his goal.
“[Price] played it perfectly. It was in stride and I just knew to shoot it. I froze the keeper and it was able to go in. I’m happy that I got my first one of the year.”
Follow Kristian Dyer of ‘MLS Multiplex‘ on Twitter @KristianRDyer