Colorado Gets Good Point From Ugly Match

There wasn't much of a game worth watching yesterday afternoon.  Three weeks off combined with the less-than-stellar pitch at Yankee Stadium led to a lot of uneven play and an inability to move the ball by either team.  In the first half the teams combined for one shot on goal (by NYCFC) and I don't even remember it.  The second half was a bit better, but still ugly all around.  Any time the Rapids can go on the road and get a point from the defending MLS Cup champs and Shield leaders (at least going into the weekend) its a good result though.

Random Musings:

• Yarbrough got away with one early in the match when he may have collided with the NYCFC forward.  It was a judgement call which is why VAR didn't get involved but a different ref could have called a PK.
• Nice goal by Barrios, made up for a rough day for him otherwise.  The narrow field did not give him space to dribble and what little he did get ended quickly on most possessions.
• Esteves played a much more defensive game than he normally does, and did so well for the most part.  He gave up a bit too much space on the cross that led to the NYCFC goal however.
• Speaking of the goal, the real error was the lack of marking, again, right in front of the box.  It looked like Wilson lost his man but Rosenberry was right there not marking anyone ether.  Similar to a player getting between Trusty and Wilson in the Nashville game.  Something that needs to be fixed.
• Zardes was completely invisible in this one.  Not what you want to see from your DP.  The back-loading of that deal with the Crew is looking better with every game.
• Due to picking up their 5th yellows in this one Abubakar and Acosta will be sitting out the next match.
• There really wasn't that much to take away from this game.  Chalk up a well-earned point and move on to Portland.

Man of the Match: Mark-Anthony Kaye.  Was a destroyer in midfield, forcing NYCFC to play out wide, largely unsuccessfully, and had a nice assist on the goal.