Locker Room Needs New Paint After Halftime

A first half that was the type of hot garbage we saw against Austin for most of it made way for the best half of soccer the Rapids have played this season and an impressive comeback for a 3-2 win.  Obviously the highlight of the night, other than the 3 points, was actually being able to be in the stadium for the match and not even the rain could bother me.  Plus, proud Seattleite here, that barely qualified as annoying rain.

While the win is great we shouldn't let it completely overshadow the problems we saw in the first 30 minutes or so.  The team looked listless and uninterested and once again our midfield was non-existent.  The game changed after the second Minnesota goal when Namli came off with injury and was replaced by Bassett.  At the time I thought that was the last thing we needed but I was badly wrong.  That change flipped the game on its head and while we didn't see any results on the scoreboard by halftime it put Minnesota on their heels and they never got off them.

Random Thoughts:

• I joked about Fraser's halftime speech peeling the locker room paint in the title but a couple players have hinted that Robin did read them the riot act at the break.  Seems to have worked.
• I think I (and a few other fans( have to admit Fraser knew what he was doing playing Namli on the wing last year.  His lack of defense just kills our midfield if he's in the center. Its time for him to take Shinyashiki's spot on the win so Bassett can start in midfield. Hopefully the gaffer sees this.
• The first United goal was on a weak foul, but so was our goal last week. The real problem was how Yarbrough set up the defense. I don't know if he read the positioning wrong or if he saw something in game tape that had him worried, but he left himself no chance to get to a ball to that upper corner, that's where Minnesota put it.
• The second United goal was bad luck more than anything.  Namli picked up a knock and was trying to play through it but had the ball stolen (which would be his last touch of the game).  The team was transitioning forward and Minnesota hit us on a quick counter.  Wilson was too slow to keep up, Namli's man had a free run since Namli went down, and Trusty slid over to make up for Wilson's lack of speed leaving his man open.
• Now the good stuff.  The Rapids first and third goals were once again off of Jack Price set pieces.  The first was just a good team job of keeping the ball in the mixer off a corner kick until Acosta could volley it home.  The third was Danny Wilson being unmarked on a free kick which is just dumb defending by Minnesota.
• The second was our first goal from the run of play this season.  Sam Vines laid in a perfect cross.  Minnesota actually had it fairly well defended with two men bracketing Rubio.  The keeper spilled the ball in the rain and Bassett was waiting for the rebound.
• Sadly that was pretty much the highlight of Rubio's game. Too much whining, not enough playing.
• I'm perfectly happy with Drew Moor being our closer.  One goal lead in the 85th minute, bring in Moor to shut everything down for 5 minutes plus stoppage.
• Completely unrelated to the game, but the new Columbus SC rebranding is garbage.

Man of the Match: Cole Bassett.  His introduction change the game.  Our midfield started connecting passes and stopping theirs, which took the pressure off the back line.  All that and he scored.