Player Ratings: Colorado Rapids vs Sporting Kansas City, May 11, 2016

On a cool, but one of the warmer matches all season, the Colorado Rapids beat Sporting Kansas City 1–0 on a 78’ strike from Rapids sub Dillon Serna. Most thought this was an ugly match, but it was a win so it does not matter how it looked to people.

Serna came on in the 76’ for Solignac and made an immediate impact. The original free kick came and and was handled by SKC. But it came out to Serna who then took off dribbling across the 18 and fired with his left foot. His shot managed to get through the crowd in the box and find the corner of the net, catching Tim Melia by surprise, who dived late.

The Rapids defended well and did not give up a good opportunity to SKC. In fact, SKC only had one shot on goal. Many of their shots were over hit or skied into the stands at Dick’s. A late shot that was a gift to the Rapids when Nuno Coelho tried a shot on goal from midfield. All it did was let the Rapids run some time off the clock with a goal kick.

Here is how I saw the match.

Zac MacMath - 7 (7.35): Zac did not face many opportunities and the before mentioned one shot on goal. he was solid for the second straight match. He withstood the pressure that SKC put on at the end of the match. The one shot was from outside of the 18, right at the end of the first half.

Marc Burch - 8 (6.70): He was one of the workhorses in this match. The midfield was getting clogged up so he kept getting forward throughout the match and was able to get several crosses in. He put in a good effort.

Axel Sjoberg - 8 (7.93): I always enjoy watching Sjoberg vs Dom Dwyer. It is always enjoyable and Sjoberg tends to win most of the battles. He won again on Wednesday, though Dwyer did tear Sjöberg’s jersey off him. Sjoberg had an excellent match.

Bobby Burling - 7 (7.09): Burling was solid and good too. He is forming a good partnership with Sjoberg. It was a good evening for Burling who helped limit the opportunities for SKC.

Mekeil Williams - 7 (6.93): With Burch getting forward a lot, there were not a lot of opportunities for Williams to get forward. But another solid evening for the defender from Trinidad and Tobago.

Sam Cronin - 7 (7.28): A decent match from Cronin. He got his foot in on Dwyer a few times. On the bad clearance, he should have scored on that. But the ball just curled wide of the goal. That could have really punished SKC.

Micheal Azira - 8 (7.14): A workhorse that manages to be in the right position most of the time. He was in the right place in the first half when he cleared a dangerous ball in the box.

Dominique Badji - 6 (5.58): He looked a step slow this match and it got only worse at the match moved along in the second half. I thought when Serna came on, Badji would come off. But that didn’t happen. He picked up a yellow for a dangerous foul. But he was whistled for two fouls early where there was no foul committed.

Jermaine Jones - 7 (7.26): This was an average match for Jones. SKC kept the midfield clogged and this impacted Jones’ ability to get some time on the ball or any opportunities. He was getting fouled but no calls. He did draw the second red on Ike Opara.

Luis Solignac - 8 (6.37): He worked hard all night. He was tracking back to play defense and also going on the attack. He played a good 1v1 with Jones in the first half and the return pass just did not find him.

Kevin Doyle - 7 (6.81): Though no goal or assist for Doyle, he did work his tail off being the outlet to relieve pressure on the defense. He did a good job of that this evening, especially how SKC was pressing.

Substitutes

Dillon Serna - 9 (8.47): This does not get better for Serna. He comes on and makes an immediate impact by getting a goal. SKC must hate to see him come on because he has done some damage to them in the last few matches.

Dillon Powers - N/A (5.89): Came on in the 87’ for Jermaine Jones. This was Powers’ 100th Major League Soccer appearance.

That is how I saw the match. What do you think?