A solid, if maybe unconvincing, win in Commerce City Saturday night is what the Rapids needed entering this 3 game week. SKC made it easier by putting up a red card in each half but even before the first Colorado looked like the better team. That said, it wasn't all easy, a former Rapid had two good chances to put SKC on the scoreboard, but Calvin Harris couldn't quite reach the end of a perfect cross, then put a breakaway off the post. Part of the reason he's no longer in Colorado.
With the win the Rapids would be in the last playoff spot if the season ended today, with a wild card game in Seattle. They are dead on the Bodmer Line at 1.32 PPG, putting us on track for the exact average point total (44-45) for the last playoff spot.
The reason this game wasn't that convincing is that the Rapids still struggled to find the final shot. 28 shots, 7 big chances, only 4 shots on target (1 off the bar too). 2 of them went in, which is great, but up an man they managed only two shots on goal, and up two men they only managed one (Rafa's goal). That's actually half as many as they had against Austin two weeks ago 11v11. 14 shots on target in the 4 games since we've been back is still something that needs to be fixed.
Still, a win is a win and 3 wins in 3 at home is a great set of results. We're doing what we need to when we need to. Only one goal allowed since the break too. It does leave us in a spot where writing off the rest of the league season to focus on the Cups would be absurd, but going all in on the playoff run is unlikely to pay off with significantly improved odds. So it continues to be a balancing act.
Another positive sign from this game was the assists on both goals. On the first our new signing, Youssef Maziz, dropped a great corner kick right on to Cannon's head. If he can bring a Jack Price-esque style to our set pieces that would be a good addition. Maziz looked good during his play from the field as well. On the second goal Aaronson made a nice move and put a cross actually in the est place it could go, slightly behind Rafa, which allowed Navarro to spin, receive the ball, and then spin back with time to pick his spot. If Youssef can unlock Paxten that's w win.
Also that goal tied Rafa with Diego Rubio with 38 goals all-time (regular season matches), 4th on the all-time list. Next up is a tie for 2nd between Omar Cummings and Paul Bravo at 39. Presumably he gets to and passes that this season, barring injury. Then its a jump up to Conor Casey on the top of the record book at 50.
Next up is a tough one, LAFC at home on short rest. Then a trip out to SoCal to play San Diego before a week off before the Rocky Mountain Cup. Beating FSL is a must but getting one point out of the other two games would be acceptable, more than that would be a good step into showing we're improving from what we've been.
Man of the Match: Reggie Cannon. Scored the first goal, drew the second red card, and overall was active and involved in a way we hadn't seen for a while. Right back hasn't been fully locked down this seasons, maybe this is a step towards really claiming it again.
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