Rapids Get a Draw That Felt Good And Bad

On Friday I said:

1-1 draw, goal by Rubio.  And even that seems optimistic.  Colorado has looked better over the last 4 games, but St. Louis has started on fire, with the best ever start by an expansion team.  They've won 6 of 8, with their only losses being to Seattle and Minnesota two teams we've lost to.  And in those 6 wins they've scored 20 goals, with multiple goals in each of them (they were scoreless in their two losses).  If Maxsø is really back we might, might, be able able to contain them but they're going to score and we can't expect to score multiple goals right now.  So at best we can hope for a 1-1 draw.

With the exception of Rubio getting the assist and not the goal (and a light assist at that) it was a fairly accurate prediction.  Colorado had more control than I expected but in the end the same problem reared its head, no finishers.  If we had somebody that was a real threat for Rubio to play off of we likely win that game. 

• Cabral got the start, finally!  He had the most shots and shots on target of anyone on the team.  Second highest xG too (after Lewis, we'll get to him).  Of course he didn't score so that's a problem, but its good to see actual offense for once.
• And in general the Rapids had their best game of the season.  By halftime they had limited the potent St. Louis offense to 2 shots on target and led the xG 1.4 to 0.1.  Overall they outshot 21-9, 13-4 on target.  The final xG was 3.2 to 1.1.
• And it still took a stoppage time goal just to get a 1-1 draw.  We have no finishers.  And with the window closing in a hour, it doesn't seem like we're getting any help.  Its going to be a long season of 1 or 2 goal games and hoping our defense can hold up.  Very similar to Pablo-ball in 2016 (if it works), or 2014/15 (if it doesn't).
  
• Speaking of, when Jonathan Lewis came in I turned to the C38 gang I was standing near and said "what, we haven't wasted enough chances yet?".  Sure enough his first two looks were great looks at goal that he put off-target.  They combined for a 0.56 xG, most of his team leading 0.65.  That's why he can't lock down a starting role.
• On the St. Louis goal, they just beat us with a quick attack out of the back.  Cabral(?) was shouldered off the ball and didn't get the obvious call, instead giving StL a goal kick.  they took it quickly and came straight down the field at us.  The got behind Rosenberry on the right, sent a great cross in, and Beitashour was just slower than Alm to the ball.
• That ended what dominance St. Louis showed in the second half.  After than it was Colorado taking control again.  It finally paid off with a nice through ball from Priso that Rubio slightly deflected to earn the assist on Barrios' goal, but even if he hadn't touched it Barrios was in.
• Everyone expected Barrios to go far post on his shot, but he beat the keeper near post.  Burki earned MLS team of the week honors with his 12 saves in this one, but he didn't get Barrios' shot.
• With the draw its 5 unbeaten for the Rapids, but still only one win on the season.  We're not as bad as we feared after the first couple of games, but we are going to struggle all season unless we get a goal-scorer in as soon as the summer window opens.
• Next up, the Northern Colorado Hailstorm in the Open Cup on Wednesday night, then a trip to Vancouver on Saturday.

Man of the Match: Bryan Acosta.  He was the engine in making our offense go until he went off injured.  Third best xG and second best xG+xA (largely because Rubio got the assist after Acosta left the game).  We haven't seen this Acosta very often, but when we do we understand why he was signed.  Hopefully this is the start of a nice run for him, assuming the injury isn't serious.