NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Colorado Rapids

Seattle too much for Rapids Saturday

April 19, 2015 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


Colorado Rapids slipped to their second defeat of the season when they went down 3-1 to Seattle Sounders at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Saturday night.

The visitors nearly always had their noses in front but they did not breathe easily until 17 minutes from time when Obafemi Martins swiveled into space skillfully after controlling a long ball from Andy Rose then slipped home a shot.

Had Dillon Powers scored rather than hit the post in the opening minutes then it might have been a different story. Seconds later, Lamar Neagle would expertly fire the visitors in front.

Gabriel Torres restored parity midway through the half but Neagle replied immediately. Rapids would create 27 shots, nine on target. Sounders' stats were 17 and nine respectively.

Again Rapids did a lot right. But again they were punished for any errors they made. Their record in the Western Conference is now 1-2-3.

TEAM NEWS

Unsurprisingly, Pablo Mastroeni kept faith with almost the same that had won 4-0 at FC Dallas the previous weekend. The only change saw Dominique Badji drop out with a leg problem, Torres moved to center forward and Vicente Sanchez slotted in on the right side of midfield.

FIRST HALF

At Dallas, an early goal had set the tone and the Rapids so nearly repeated the feat. Chad Marshall miscued his clearance and Power pounced only to prod his shot against the post.

The Rapids would be made to pay as Neagle burst into the area on the left and drifted his shot beyond Irwin and into the far corner.

The home side battled their way back into the game and were rewarded when Torres slotted home, following a perceptive through ball from Powers.

However, again, Seattle pulled off a sucker-punch when Neagle bundled the ball from close range after Irwin had initially saved from the Seattle midfielder.

The Rapids keeper pulled off a number of fine saves on the night. Perhaps the best came from a deflected free-kick from Marco Pappa. Shortly afterwards he also made a huge save from Clint Dempsey at the far post.

As at Dallas, Powers had been inventive in the first half and, on the whistle, he drove wide of the far post.

SECOND HALF

The Rapids sensed an equalizer at the start of the second half. Michael Harrington set up Sanchez to fire high then he volleyed over the bar himself.

However, the Sounders soon flexed their muscles. Tyrone Mears made Irwin divert the ball high and then Dempsey curled an effort just wide with Drew Moor in close attendance.

Sanchez forced Stefan Frei to fingertip an effort over the bar with an angled effort, then Lucas Pittinari turned on the edge of the area but his shot went just past the post.

The home side seemed to be closing in on a goal. However a piece of individual skill from Martins stymied their recovery in the 73rd minute. Rose pumped the ball forward and the Nigerian's expert backheeled control fooled the Rapids defense and gave the striker sufficient space to advance on goal and slot home.

Pittinari's long-range strike in the 82nd minute was a close as the Rapids got to reducing the arrears on a disappointing night for the men in burgundy.

Check out the Colorado Rapids Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...

Major League Soccer Stories from April 19, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central