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There’s no way to sugarcoat it — the Colorado Rapids’ effort against the Seattle Sounders on Sunday night was poor. Could Clint Irwin have done more on those goals? Sure. Did the defense leave him out to dry a bit? Yes. Could anyone else have stepped up along the way and did something? Of course.
But despite having several chances on the other side of the pitch, the Rapids couldn’t find a way to come back tonight and come back to Colorado with a 3-0 loss and a red card for Lucas Esteves.
Christian Roldan opened the scoring for the Sounders less than two minutes into the game, with Jimmy Medranda adding a second in the 21st minute, and Joao Paulo putting in the third in 45’+1’.
But let’s talk about that red card for Esteves in the 61st minute. Actually, there isn’t much to say because I can’t for the life of me even see a foul to begin with, much less a red card. Truly, what did referee Chris Penso see here?
Lucas Esteves was sent off for a phantom foul. #Rapids96
— Inside Rapids (@insiderapids) October 4, 2021
Cc: @MLSRefStats https://t.co/dS7fgIce76 pic.twitter.com/ySEPJrM1n7
The plus is that the Rapids didn’t give up a goal after going down to 10 men. In fact, Diego Rubio scored one but it was called back. But at the end of 90 minutes, the Sounders stay at the top of the Western Conference. The Portland Timbers are creeping up on third and the Rapids really needed this one.