Rapids Lose Heads, and Points, Again

Once again the Rapids lost focus for 15 minutes of the game.  Once again this cost them points.  Once again we're talking about the mental fortitude of this team.  This week the "lose our focus" minutes were the 60th through the 75th where we picked up 4 (count them, 4!) yellow cards and gave up the winning PK.  Until Hudson can get this team to play focused for 90 minutes we're just a more entertaining version of the same old Rapids.

Other observations:

• That ref was brutal.  Reportedly he was a last minute swap for the ref originally assigned the game and you can tell he hadn't done his "leg work" to prepare for the last minute assignment.  The first half he let them play, the second half he started cracking down after things got out of control.
• Credit to Orlando, they figured out the ref's change and took full advantage while the Rapids didn't.  I had no issue with any individual call but the ref really should have looked for a way to balance out the scales a bit before things got out of hand.
• Ok, one issue I had was the foul call on Boateng on the play he got knocked out on.  In a regularly controlled game that's probably a good no call.  In this game with the tenor of things it was really unfair to call it on a player who just hit the ground lights out.
• Not to pile on, but Boateng did not have a great game.  Combined with Aigner apparently being in Hudson's doghouse it appears both or major 2017 signings are now busts.
• Good to see Gashi start.  Bad to see Gashi go off injured, again.
• Serna, I love you kid but ouch, bad game.  A choice to clear a header to the middle of the box led to Martinez's failed bicycle kick and the first Orlando goal.  Then he game up the PK for the second.
• On that first goal MacMath's lack of effort is the exact same thing some fans have been criticizing Howard for over the last 9 months or so.
• Badji was the well places shot again!  Clearly the most improved from 2017 to 2018 so far.
• Mason and Boli were both in this game, they combined for as many shots and shots on goal as Tommy Smith.  Not good.
• 7 points dropped this season with goals allowed after the 75th minute.  That will come back to bite us.

Man of the Match: Edgar Castillo.  He is quietly putting together one of those seasons where he's rarely the best player in a given match but is clearly the best player on the team.  The quality and effort were there all 90 minutes on Sunday, which is more than you can say for most of the guys wearing burgundy.