The Colorado Rapids drew with the Seattle Sounders on Saturday afternoon, playing to a 1-1 result at Lumen Field. Efforts from midfielder Djordje Mihailovic and striker Kevin Cabral saw the Rapids’ equalize in the final moments of the game to return back to altitude with four points in the past two road matches.
“Even when I talk to the team after you can see this frustration because we want to get all three points, which is a good thing, right? We're a hungry team,” Head Coach Chris Armas said after the match. “They believe they can win these games, especially with a red card, but in our business, there's draws that feel like a loss, like Nashville, and there's sometimes draws that feel like a win. And today it's a draw that just feels a little bit strange because we want those three points.”
The Sounders opened the scoring in the 11th minute after a ball played in caught defender Keegan Rosenberry’s hand in the box, resulting in a penalty kick call for the home side. Striker Raul Ruidiaz’s opportunity from the spot found the back of the net to give the Sounders the advantage early.
Striker Darren Yapi made his first start of the season in the Western Conference matchup. His chance on goal in the dying minutes of the first half, following a cross from fellow Homegrown Cole Bassett, was only denied by Nouhou to keep the Rapids scoreless heading into halftime.
Seattle’s Atencio collected two yellow cards in 10 minutes to start the second half, receiving his second in the 57th minute after a challenge on Oliver Larraz to put the Sounders down to 10 men. The Rapids responded to the change with substitutions of Jonathan Lewis and Calvin Harris for Omir Fernandez and Yapi, respectively.
The Rapids earned their own chance from the spot just minutes later after Navarro was taken down just inside the box. Mihailovic stepped up to the spot, but his shot was saved, continuing to keep the equalizer just out of Colorado’s reach.
Mihailovic stood over the ball again in the 87th minute after Seattle’s Danny Leyva committed a foul outside the box. The midfielder’s bending shot hit the near post and bounced just once before an unmarked Cabral finished the chance for the Rapids’ equalizer.
"I had a lot of confidence even before this goal,” Cabral said after the match. "But with this goal, it helps a lot. Always believe until the last whistle of the referee. That's my message, always believe.”
The Rapids will return home to take on Houston Dynamo FC on March 23rd. Kickoff at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park is set for 7:30 p.m.
