Second Game, Same Result

Well that was fun, until it wasn't.  A great 30 minutes to start the game descended slowly (or maybe not so slowly) into a repeat of 2017.  2 goals in the first 8 minutes is the fastest double for the Rapids since the 5-1 beat down of the Sounders in October of 2013 started with 2 goals in the first 10 minutes.  Really though, this graphic is the story of the game:

That's right, after the first 20 minutes the Rapids never had the majority of the possession.  After Mason's goal in the 8th minute we didn't have another shot on target the rest of the night.  Not surprisingly, this team can't sustain a lead with that type of play.

Other observations:

• Short as it was, the first 20-30 minutes looked like a good team.  Good ball movement, well timed runs, and defenders filling space as needed.
• Niki Jackson looks like a solid late-round pick.  I'm not expecting him to turn into Omar Cummings, but the next Brown/Badji is not impossible.
• Joe Mason make the Vancouver GK lay a brick on that goal.  More of that please.
• BTW, the assist on that goal was a 60 yard bomb from Smith.
• Good to see Badji back on the score sheet after a rough few games going back to last season.
• Wynne should not be starting.  He really stands out as a key to our defensive struggles.  He's not comfortable at CB and Smith and Wilson have to adjust to cover, setting the whole formation off-kilter.
• Not that he's the only issue, clearly the team is still struggling with the formation.  Both goals came from unmarked trailing runners, something KC was getting away with all night.
• Good, we used all 3 subs.  Bad, our choice of subs, specifically McBean.  He's useless and shouldn't see the field outside the Open Cup.  Serna would have been a better choice.
• 3 points lost in two games on stoppage time goals.  That's a bad pattern that needs to be broken now.
• Side note - Apparently nobody told Stadium Ops the season started on Saturday night.  Way to prioritize your team KSE (this is not a knock on the Rapids FO, Stadium Ops are a separate KSE division).

Man of the Match: Tim Howard.  Stood on his head and saved a point out of this game.  If that's the Hwoard we get going forward he's going to be worth every penny.