Second Verse, Same As The First

Another week, another predicted 1-1 draw, another actual 1-1 draw.  Still didn't get the goal scorer right.  While a point on the road is normally a good result its not good enough for where the team is right now and where it was expected to be.  We're tied for last place in the West but winning the goal differential tiebreaker over San Jose.  In the East only Chicago and expansion Inter Miami have less points than us.

Over the last two games we seem to have solved our defensive liabilities.  The KC goal came off a long-range shot that was perfectly hit and partially screened.  The SJ goal on Saturday came off a PK called from a dumb handball by Vines.  Sam slid in to block a cross with his arm raised and the ball hit it.  Not only was it bad positioning but it was unnecessary as the cross was going towards a single Earthquake in the box who was bracketed by Abubakar and Wilson.  It wasn't going to be dangerous.  Outside of that SJ only really had one dangerous attack and Abubakar ended that with an inch-perfect tackle.  Yarbrough didn't have to make a tough save all night.

The cost of solving our defense seems to be a complete lack of attacking ideas though.  For two games the plan seems to be "get the ball to Namli and hope he can make something happen".  That and set pieces.  The latter worked this week as Kamara came off the bench and scored a header from a corner kick to level the score.  The  Rapids should have had a goal right after half as all Acosta had to do was play a simple 12 yard pass to Rubio and he was in, but over hit it.

The Rapids best hope right now might be to get their senior players back in the starting lineup.  Rubio has had a good run as starter and not produced, so lets put Kamara back in.  Benezet is hopefully going to be healthy soon, as one of our two "difference makers" acquired this offseason, only being available for the 3 games in Orlando hasn't made much of a difference.  Warner started over Price this game, I'm not sure if it was due t performance or because of the compressed schedule, but getting the 2019 Price back would be helpful.

Man of the Match: Cole Bassett.  I was originally going to take the easy route and give the award to Kei but I realized that over the last two games we've scored two goals, and Bassett has a goal and an assist on them.  He's clearly having an impact and as long as Benezet is out Bassett should be starting.