The Rapids fell short on Wednesday night at BC Place after the Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld capitalized on Colorado's mistakes to earn a brace. Striker Gyasi Zardes cut the ‘Caps’ lead in half in the 76th minute when he pounced on a spilled Jonathan Lewis chance, but the Rapids couldn’t find the equalizer before the final whistle to close out the game.
"It's obviously a really really disappointing loss for us because goals that we conceded from individual mistakes just made it very difficult to come back from," said head coach Robin Fraser after the game. "Then having said that we thought we were much better in the second half and created enough chances to win."
Vancouver opened the scoring in the 13th minute when winger Julian Gressel intercepted a pass in the Rapids’ half and drove toward the box before passing to Gauld. Gauld’s one-touch finish skied over William Yarbrough to put the Rapids down by one.
The Rapids’ attack saw numerous chances before the first half could finish, including a Lewis shot that was denied by the crossbar in the 26th minute. The striker delivered a cross into the far post just minutes later attempting to set up winger Sam Nicholson, but the Scotsman couldn’t get the edge on his defender to finish the chance.
Gauld found his second of the night in the 40th minute after reading the Rapids’ passes, intercepting the play and sliding a ball past Yarbrough.
Colorado’s offensive intensity continued to blaze in the second half when Max and Zardes created a chance from the top of the box that was batted over the crossbar and Lewis put two on frame, but their goal was realized in the 76th minute when Lewis’ shot to the near post was spilled by Vancouver’s Hasal and Zardes was there to clean up the play.
Zardes nearly found the equalizer and a brace of his own after a subbed-on Ralph Priso floated him a ball in the box, but the striker’s header hit the post and snubbed Colorado’s chances of a draw in Vancouver.
"We're still in it," said Priso postgame of the Rapids' chances at a playoff run. "Train every day like it's a final, play every game like it's a final and we're still in control of our own destiny really, if we don't take any missteps and throw games away like we did today. We just have to train well and it's still possible for sure."
Game Notes
- Zardes' goal marks his seventh in burgundy this season, and first goal since his hat-trick performance against Minnesota United FC at home.
- The Rapids recorded 14 shots on the night, led by Zardes' five chances and Lewis' six in front of goal.
- Colorado has scored in each of their last nine games in MLS, putting 18 goals into the back of the net in that span.
- Rubio's appearance in Wednesday night's starting XI tallied for his 100th start in MLS, and defender Danny Wilson recorded his 100th MLS appearance in the meeting.
Up Next
The Rapids will return home to DICK’S Sporting Goods Park for their second and final matchup with Houston Dynamo this season on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. MT.
