Rapids Set The Torch To Atlanta

Last time I saw Atlanta destroyed that badly General Sherman was in town.  A well played, and particularly well coached, game from the home squad.  A much needed boost after our first 3 games this season.  There is still plenty to work on however.

Random Musings:

• Good news, we had 3 goals.  Bad news, those were our only 3 shots on target (and one of them came against 10 players).  Quality over quantity appears to be our direction so far this year.
• Credit to Fraser for the game plan in this one.  Knowing that Atlanta wanted to press and counter he didn't let them do it, because he had us sit back and counter.  Atlanta couldn't press for a turnover when we didn't have the ball.
• That said, it did make for some nervy moments in the first 30 minutes.  Early on Atlanta was certainly taking the game to us.  Great job by Will and the defense to keep them off the board.
• After the first goal things opened up more, which is what this Rapids team needs.  Quinn said it well at the match, the first goal, especially at home, will be critical in our games this year.  We concede and the team will park the bus against us.  We score and teams will open up and give us more opportunities.
• Kaye played better alongside Price than he did out wide.  He still seemed like he was giving the ball away more than he should, but the stats actually show he played a great game.
• Interesting that Max only got a few garbage time minutes at the end of the match.  I don't think that indicates anything, just squad rotation
• Rubio, Lewis, Shinyashiki.  Our oft discredited striker core.  All 3 scored.
• Again the plan was to get it the ball outside and cross.  The difference this week is that we had crosses from multiple locations and players, not everything went through Esteves.
• Wilson came  off at half with hamstring concerns.  Hopefully its not serious.
• Great to be back with the full game day experience, especially the tailgate.  Well, almost.  Bad news that GB's won't be back this year (per GB's Facebook post on Saturday).  Talk at the match was that KSE wanted an extraordinary rent increase on the space in Eighteen76 and it didn't make financial sense for GB's.
• Family events will keep me from the SKC game next week, and likely I won't even have a chance to watch much more than the highlights.  So expect a light week here.

Man of the Match: Diego Rubio.  Goal, assist, and near second assist.  Easy choice.