By John Zielonka
With Axel Sjoberg and Bobby Burling unavailable, this was always going to be a decent test of the Rapids’ defensive depth. A clean sheet tells you all you need to know about how well Jared Watts and his three more experienced colleagues fared.
Without Gabriel Torres, there was always going to be a lack of creativity especially on that surface, and just to rub salt in the wounds, their only ever present Lucas Pittinari was forced off in the 28th minute.
Still, this was a display that the Rapids will enjoy rewatching mostly because it signals their first hat trick of wins since 2011 and partly because they’ve sod all else to do for the rest of July!
STARTING LINEUP
Clint Irwin (G): Irwin made two outstanding saves on Thomas to notch his seventh shutout of the year. His one-handed save on the Brazilian’s opening minute strike kept the Rapids in the game and prevented an early Seattle advantage. Irwin faced five total shots during the match. Rating: 7.5
James Riley (D): The ex-Sounder made numerous runs from the right side into the Seattle offensive zone. His decisions and distributions were crisp and on-target. Riley had a solid game on both sides of the ball. Rating: 7.5
Drew Moor (D): The Colorado defender was active throughout the match to keep Seattle’s scoring opportunities to a minimum. Besides his defensive effort, he also created one scoring chance on the night. Rating: 6.5
Jared Watts (D): Watts’ pass to Doyle led to the winning tally and received credit for an assist on the goal. Struggled a bit with his passing accuracy (68.4%), but worked hard to keep Seattle’s offense in check. His performance proves the Rapids have decent depth in defence. Rating: 6.5
Michael Harrington (D): The ex-Timber led Colorado in total touches (57) and was a key element in Colorado’s defense. Prevented the Sounders from getting too many open looks as the Rapids notched another clean sheet. Rating: 7.0
Sam Cronin (M): Cronin was more engaged in the opening 45 minutes of play and disappeared in the second half. Out of the starting midfielders and defenders, he was the worst passer (62.5%) and recorded the fewest touches (38). Rating: 4.5
Lucas Pittinari (M): The Colorado forward exited the match in the 28th minute after suffering a leg injury and becoming the surface’s first casualty. Rating: Incomplete
Marcelo Sarvas (M): Sarvas didn’t give an inch in his one-on-one battles. He made his presence known and played a physical game in difficult playing conditions. The unsung hero of the game. Here we’re singing. Rating: 7.5
Charles Eloundou (F): In 75 minutes of play, Eloundou had three shots during the game and was Colorado’s most accurate passer (81.3%). Managed to find plenty of open space in the Seattle offensive zone but failed to find the finishing touch. Still his dribbling was a delight to watch and coupled with a better end product, he could confuse a few MLS defences yet. Rating: 7.0
Vincente Sanchez (M): Sanchez fought for every ball and led the team with four shots on the night. He struggled early with his corner kicks, which may have been due to the horrible pitch conditions. Otherwise, one of the better Colorado players on the night. Rating: 7.0
Kevin Doyle (F): The Man of the Match. Doyle outmaneuvered two Seattle defenders and unleashed a bullet past Troy Perkins to lead the Rapids to their third straight win. Colorado’s DP justified his title with a dramatic finish. Rating: 7.5
SUBSTITUTES
Dillon Powers (M): Replaced Pittinari midway through the first half. Had a couple of scoring chances and may be on his way to a starting role . Rating: 6.0
Juan Ramirez (F): Entered as a late match replacement for Eloundou with 15 minutes left in regulation time. Rating: Incomplete
