Rapids Faceplant In Seattle

That was rough.  Colorado barely had time to get its boots on before they were down 1-0, then they went down 2-0 before the midpoint of the half.  It was pretty much over then, but Seattle added on just before the break to end the game.  It was ugly.

Random Thoughts:

• This game showed the difference between the team we are and the team we want to be.  Seattle capitalized on all of our mistakes.  We didn't capitalize on any of Seattle's mistakes.
• The first goal was a poor play from Rosenberry, exacerbated by a unlucky deflection.  But we would have gotten away with both of those if Irwin could have made the save.  It wasn't "easy" but a good keeper makes it.  This would just be the first indication that Irwin was not a good keeper last night.
• The second goal was Seattle at its best as a team.  I think every Sounder touched the ball in an ~18 pass sequence leading to the goal.  Despite that, it took the defense being completely out of position and Irwin missing on a ball any professional keeper should be prepared for to give up the goal.
• The final score was a bit of individual dribbling brilliance from Seattle and a whole lot of Keystone Kops defending from Colorado, including Irwin yet again not making the play on the ball.
• Seriously, the Sounders only had 4 shots on goal in the first half, and Irwin saved the weakest of the 4.  (and it was quite weak).  I really hope Yarbrough's injury is short-term.
• Meanwhile the Rapids had good looks at goal, and couldn't convert.  At the end of the game the eXpected Goals was 1.5 to 1.1.  The difference was one team being clinical in front of goal and the other wasn't.
• If I have one real frustration with this season, its been Fraser trying to adjust our system from a 4-3-3 to a 5-4-1 midseason when we really weren't built for it.  Rosenberry is not a wing back and I think forcing him into that role is the reason he's had some shaky appearances this year.  Galvan and the others we've tried at left wingback also aren't the right fits.  I know Fraser is trying to get all 3 CB's on the field at once, but we looked better in this match when we went back to the 4-3-3.  We just need to stick with that for the last 7 matches.
• Esteves got red carded on a weak call in the second half.  In real-time it looked like a ridiculous call.  In hindsight, with some help from actual refs, I can see how you might get to red but its still a harsh call.  That's a yellow at best IMO.  But its close enough that the IRP won't overturn it so he'll miss the game in Minnesota.
• With Yarbrough not starting and Rosenberry being subbed out, no Rapid has played every minute this season.
• With this result Seattle moves to 54 points, 6 points ahead of us, on equal games.  Even if we beat them here on the 20th we're still 3 points back with 6 to play.  Realistically we're playing for second at best (SKC is 4 points up on us, but we have a game in hand) and we probably need to be more concerned about Portland passing us for 3rd (2 points back but we have a game in hand).
• The good news is that there's a drop off after that.  Minnesota is in 5th on PPG and they're 10 points back on equal games.  FSL and the Galaxy are only 9 points back but we have a game in hand.  We should still be confident in a home playoff match, but it would be really good to not be in the 4th spot and have to go back to Seattle in the 2nd round.

Man of the Match: Kellyn Acosta.  Nobody really stood out, but Acosta didn't do anything wrong and was one of the few dangerous players we had.