The Big Picture
Cole Bassett scored his second goal in as many games, but the Colorado Rapids (4-14-10, 22 pts) were unable to rally from a two-goal deficit as they fell 2-1 to Seattle Sounders FC (12-9-9, 45 pts) at DICK’S Sporting Goods on Wednesday night. The Rapids will be back in action on Saturday as they travel to Portland, Ore., to face Timbers FC.
Notable:
- M Cole Bassett scored in his second consecutive match, finding the back of the net in the 80th minute. It marked his 17th career MLS goal, the most by any Homegrown Player in club history, as well as his team-leading fourth goal of the season.
- F Braian Galván recorded his 50th MLS appearance when he substituted into the match in the 63rd minute.
- F Luis Díaz made his Rapids' debut when he substituted into the match in the 62nd minute.
COLORADO RAPIDS INTERIM HEAD COACH CHRIS LITTLE
On the match:
“Disappointed with the result. I was really pleased with the last 15-20 minutes. I thought it was a really good response. The players were on the front foot. We looked like, after the first goal, we could threaten to get a second goal. And it was a really good response, but probably a little bit too late unfortunately.”
On his message to the team heading into the match against Portland this Saturday:
“I said we've got to reflect on this game. We have to find out why the energy and intensity wasn't there as a group. Collectively, we'll look at that. But the good thing is we've got another game now in three days, so let's process it. We'll look at it. We'll analyze the game tomorrow and collectively as a group. Let's take ownership of it, but let's move on to the next game. Let's move on and then we've got the next game here in three days, and another one on Wednesday. It'll be a tough match in Portland and I think we could take a lot of positives from how we ended [tonight’s] game. And if we can carry that to the next game, I think we can be in good shape.”
COLORADO RAPIDS MIDFIELDER COLE BASSETT
On the match:
“Didn't start playing for 65 minutes and that's going to hurt you against a team like this. And I don't know what it is with us. We're not coming out with enough aggression and energy. We didn't last game either, even though we turned up in the second half, but it's really stuff that you can control—that we're not coming out with that mentality, that energy, stuff that we've talked about. Because, obviously, you're not going to have your days on the ball, but that can't be every game where we're not showing up like that, so definitely put us in a hole.”
On midfielder Ralph Priso’s performances over the past two games:
“I've liked when Ralph has come in. He's brought in energy. He likes to get on the ball and combine, and I think it helped us tonight. He brought a positive energy that we needed. I think for the midfield in the first half, both of them [against New England and Seattle], we've been flat, but in the second halves, I think we've connected through each other a little bit more. That's got more chances for the team and we've been able to switch play quite well, as well, in the second half. So for us, I think, right now we're not a possession-based team. We want to try to hit teams in transition. So for us as midfielders when we do get a chance to keep the ball, we need to be the ones that dictate tempo. We haven't done that enough in the first half of both games, but in the second half, we've done a little bit better, and we play forward more and that's led to chances.”
