Second Verse, Same As The First (Again)

Does this sound familiar?  The Rapids talk about taking the USOC seriously this year, host a match against a lower-league side, got outplayed, lost their cool, and lost.  Its pretty much a Rapids tradition at this point, except for the years when we don't host and lose to a lower-league side.

I could break the game down but why?  Instead just a few things to consider.  If we were really taking this seriously why didn't Tommy Smith, Kellyn Acosta, Sam Nicholson, or Andre Shinyashiki start?  I'm shocked that I'm even saying this, but if Smith starts we likely win that game as he doesn't pick up Sjoberg's dumb double-yellow.  Or if we have more attacking skill we're not defending a one goal lead into stoppage time, only to give it away.  In the end, the Rapids treated this like they always have, as a nuisance.

Some Rapids USOC stats:

• The Rapids are 9-11 all-time against lower-league competition in the USOC now.  They're 4-7 against MLS competition.
• The last time the Rapids hosted two USOC games in the same year was 2014 (ending with the infamous Atlanta game).
• The last time the Rapids played more than two USOC games in the same year was 1999 (ending with the loss in the finals to Rochester).
• Hat-tip to the Rabbi for this, the Rapids have been eliminated in back-to-back years by lower-league competition three different times.
• Rochester Raging Rhinos (twice), Chicago Sting, Richmond Kickers, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Minnesota Thunder, Seattle Sounders, Orlando City, Atlanta Silverbacks, Nashville SC, New Mexico United -- The roll call of lower league teams that have beaten the Rapids in USOC play.