COMMERCE CITY, CO (April 23, 2016) – The Colorado Rapids have now won three in a row and are 4-0-0 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in 2016. Pablo Mastroeni’s side defeated the struggling Seattle Sounders on Saturday night, 3-1.
Colorado Rapids Win Against Seattle For Third Win In A Row
The Rapids lineup remained much the same from last game. Jermaine Jones again started in the No. 10 role in a 4-2-3-1. Luis Solignac start up top with Kevin Doyle still recovering from injury. The only change came in warm ups. Marc Burch got hurt before the game, so Axel Sjoberg started at center back and Eric Miller moved out to his natural position at right back.
Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid had to do some lineup juggling. The Sounders again played a 4-3-3, but with Oalex Anderson, Herculez Gomez, and Jordan Morris up top. Morris played on the right flank. Clint Dempsey was not in the 18.
The home team got out on the front foot to start the match. The sides traded chances early, with Shkelzen Gashi and Jordan Morris being very active in the attach. The Rapids won a free kick inside the final third in the 20th minute. Gashi stood over the ball and fired a cross into the box. Jones was able to find some space and head the ball far post and past goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
Jones received a yellow card for his celebration, with his undershirt reading a ‘Happy Birthday’ message to his twin sons.
Colorado sat back for much of the game, giving Seattle possession, but the Sounders had trouble creating much of anything in the first half. Gashi won another free kick in the 26th minute. His cross again found Jones wide open, but the 34-year-old’s header went wide. The Rapids had good build up play just eight minutes later that led to a Gashi volley, but the hopeful shot was off target.
The half ended with a run into the box by midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz, but he was met by a committee of Rapids defenders and Gashi cleared the ball out.
Colorado started the second have with a bang. In the 52nd minute, left back Mekeil Williams fired a long cross from midfield. Midfielder Dominique Badji kept himself onside then ran onto the ball towards goal. He squared the ball and Solignac had an easy tap in to make it 2-0.
The Sounders picked up play after the goal, desperate to get back into the game. Eric Miller left the game with an injury in the 60th minute, and Dennis Castillo made his MLS debut, just days after signing with the Rapids. Four minutes later, the Sounders had good build up along their left flank. Cristian Roldan reversed fields to Morris, who took a touch and fired the ball past goalkeeper Zac MacMath.
The home side won a penalty kick when Sjoberg was pulled down in the box in the 62nd minute. Gashi stepped up to take the kick after a confrontation with Jones. Gashi shot the ball to his left, but Frei made the save.
The Rapids found their insurance goal in the 83rd minute. Castillo made a run down the side line and sent a cross into the box. Substitute Kevin Doyle made a diagonal run and found the ball with his toe, and directed it just over Frei for a fantastic goal. Center back Brad Evans was given a red card after the play for a confrontation with the official.
The match ended 3-1 to the Rapids. Colorado travel to Montreal. They take on Ignacio Piatti and the Impact at 2 pm MT. Seattle are home to Columbus Crew next week at the same time.
