The New Kids Are OK

The Rapids haven't posed an updated pic yet

So that whole thing from my game preview about Kosi Thompson not being ready to start?  Yeah, clearly I know nothing.  Thompson started, scored in the first 4 minutes, picked up another goal, and led the Rapids to a 6-2 win of Houston.  Needless to say I didn't see that coming.  The Matt Wells experience is never boring.

Random Thoughts:

• The interesting thing about this match is that the stats are really even.  Same number of shots on target, same number of big chances, almost equal possession and almost equal xG.  The difference is that the Rapids took better shots with their chances.
• Second chance goals were big in this one.  Both of Thompson's goals were from following the play for example.  With the amount of chances the Rapids are creating under Wells being the second man in can pay off at times.
• I'm not sure we really figured out the lineup at any point in this one.  Multiple players like Ojediran and Fredrick dropped back at times to fill the hole in the back line.  A really nice coaching job by Wells.
• Navarro's first goal is about as clean a goal as I've seen from a Rapids striker in years.  Again, as the second man in, it was a very deft flick of his boot that slammed the boal home.  Just a pleasure to watch.
• Josh Atencio was named MOTM at the game, and he had a nice game, but he was maybe third on my lists of MOTM.
• (And just to clarify, Centennial 38 awards their Man of the Match oar but its the Rapids who pick the MOTM, not C38)
• Thompson, Sealy, Fredrick, Atencio, Navarro, Minoungou, and unofficially Cobb (own goal on Houston) were all on the score sheet.  Thompson, Navarro, and Fredrick all showed up multiple times.
• Minoungou was delayed returning from Burkina Faso and had only trained with the team for one day, but man did he show some dribbling skills.  He almost scored on his first run.
• Fredrick got a lock of flack last season, and I questioned how much time he's been getting under Wells, but he is balling out.  Maybe the pressing system is what was needed to unlock him.

Since its late I am not going to have time to do a separate Open Cup preview.  Nor will I be able to go to the game because of business travel on Wednesday.   And because of that travel any recap will probably be limited.  Its Union Omaha at home.  A team that just beat a MLS team by 4 goals and who have outscored 3 MLS teams at home by 12-3 should not be losing to Union Omaha regardless of who we start, short of running out a bunch of Rapids 2 players.  This should be a win for the Rapids and advancement to the next round to face SKC away or the Switchbacks at home.

Man of the Match: Kosi Thompson.  Had 2 goals, including what turned out to be the game-winner.  Easy call.  It turns out that despite only announcing his visa on Wednesday he had actually ben training for a few days prior to that so he was more integrated in the system than I thought.  A first impression like this is going to make it hard for Travis or Cannon to get the right back spot back!