Rapids Leave It Late In Toppling Timbers

Well, the Rapids have figured out how to win, just not how to win easily.  For the third game in a row Colorado had to come from behind to get the three points.  Just like the Columbus game, Gordon scored a late header for a 2-1 win.  It may not be the prettiest way but it is exciting and gets us 3 points!

• This is the first time since 1999 that the Rapids have won 3 games in a row when the opponent also scored
• Surprisingly Colorado is only 3 points off the playoff pace at this point.  If they win both games this week they'll be ahead of the average pts/game for the 6th placed team
• The first half was a mess.  The defense was constantly pulled out of shape, largely due to the ineffective midfield
• I'm not sure what Azira was doing on Portland's goal.  He correctly backs up Hairston, allowing Marlon to switch off to the overlapping run but instead of forcing Blanco outside towards Hairston and the worse angle he overruns the play giving Blanco the full use of his dangerous right foot and he made us pay
• Pablo came out of the locker room significantly before the players for the second half.  Best guess is that there was a player-led discussion going on about getting things straightened out
• I'll be honest, I thought that through ball from Doyle on Badjji's goal was too close to the defender.  Talk about inch perfect placement
• Badji may be learning, in the past he would have blasted that ball instead of chipping it
• The sub of Wats for Serna and moving Saied inside changed the game.  It settled down the midfield and gave Saied a chance to control the game
• Pablo made a second good change when he went for the win by putting 3 up front.  It paid off in the Gordon goal
• That's why we brought Gordon in and he's gotten us 4 points in the last 2 league games with last-minute headers.  He's almost paid for his salary already
• Credit to Pablo for the coaching on this one.  Its  one of the few games where he out-coached the  opposition to get a result
• Ford was a beat the whole game.  He's still relying on athleticism over reading the game but he's learning quickly
• Great atmosphere in the second half at DSG

Man of the Match: Kevin Doyle.  Putting hi behind two (not one) forward really let him hold and distribute, as we saw on the assist.  He also did a lot of work tracking down balls and generating the attack.  Maybe his best "quiet" game as a Rapid.