2014 Review: Match 16--Rapids vs Whitecaps

Yikes.  Second to last victory for the Colorado Rapids occurred on June 28.  With four months of the season left.

I will say it again: Yikes

And what makes it even harder to swallow is that the Lads played a hell of a game.  They were good in their passing, they put six shots on goal and really made life very difficult for a team that would eventually make the MLS playoffs.  The Rapids entered their first match after the World Cup break on a bit of a slide as they were winless in two, but did well to limit Vancouver and pick up all three points.

Here are the relevant statistics for the match:

SOG: Shots on Goal.  BS:  Blocked Shots.  TP: Total Passes.  PA: Passing Accuracy.  POSS: Possession

Record after 16 matches: (7-5-4)  25 Points

Hero of the Match:  Dillon Powers. This is a match that showed how important Dillon Powers is to this team and how vital it is that he plays in the right position on the pitch.  Powers was playing in a central role and it is one where he excels.  Of course he has the ability to play outside, but he natural position in the center where he is able to track back and help out the defense when needed and drive the attack forward.  A quality game from Powers.

Goat of the Match:  The False Hope.  No one would have known that this was the second to last win of the year.  Hell, at this point in the year the Rapids were in third place in the Western Conference and looked like they would make the playoffs.  But yet there was the false hope that this season could have been special.  It was a cruel blow to the club and supporters, but one that no one could have predicted.  And when the reality set in, this match became all the more frustrating.  The Rapids played such a great match and showed what they are capable of against the Whitecaps.  But it was one of the last true rays of light in a terrible season.