What went wrong in the Colorado Rapids weekend loss
Colorado Rapids streak ends
The Colorado Rapids surprisingly fell flat on Saturday, a 3-0 loss at Real Salt Late a bit of a shock given their recent form.
An own goal by Rapids goalkeeper William Yarbrough in the 14th minute set the tone for a frustrating night for the Rapids. Unbeaten in their last four games, the Rapids then conceded a 30th minute goal from Bobby Wood, essentially dooming them to the road loss.
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When Rubio Rubin scored midway through the second half, the fate of the match was sealed for the home side.
Despite being on the road, it was disappointing from the Rapids who held more possession (58.2 percent) and an advantage in shots (9:5) as well as corner kicks (6:2) and crosses (16:5) and yet couldn’t score.
“We made some really bad mistakes tonight. We made some really bad mistakes and it was always going to be a challenge when we give away the goals that we did,” Rapids head coach Robin Fraser said after the match. “[B]ut we move on.”
The home win pushes Real Salt Lake above the red line and to seventh place in the Western Conference with a 5-4-5 record (20 points). The Colorado Rapids remain in fourth place in the conference at 7-4-3 (24 points).
Colorado Rapids defensive mistakes
Uncharacteristically, the Colorado Rapids were shaky defensively. There was the own goal from Yarbrough, who has been steady this year. There were mistakes from the backline that compounded this early deficit.
A giveaway in the attacking third led Real Salt Lake to counterattack in the 30th minute. Inexplicably, RSL forward Bobby Wood was allowed to carry the ball 50 yards up the field despite having a Rapids defender alongside for much of that run.
Somehow, Wood, even with a second defender closing in on him, was allowed to take a left-footed shot from 15 yards out that beat a helpless Yarbrough near post for a 2-0 lead.
“We’re disappointed obviously with the result. We thought we were comfortable in the game until obviously the goals we conceded, which for our standards they’re below par so we take full responsibility as a team there,” midfielder Jack Price said after the match.
“We win together, we lose together, so there’s no individual blame on the goals, but we’re very disappointed to come away with nothing because we felt like, like I said before, we were well in the game and comfortable until the mistakes were made.”
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