Colorado Rapids have questions looming heading into Vancouver road match

Off to an 0-1-1 start, the Colorado Rapids are still trying to find a groove.

The match against Austin FC last week was a tale of two halves. They were flying high after a 1-0 lead at halftime, then it turned into a nightmare in the second half.

The Rapids really struggled to keep possession and build out of the back — an issue that has carried over from 2020.

“I just think they’re just mistakes and mistakes led to putting ourselves in difficult spots and some through concentration, some through physical mistakes,” Rapids head coach Robin Fraser said. “But certainly that’s going to be the case if mistakes start to compound themselves. And when you have that, then you have yourself under pressure, and (that) ultimately leads to giving away chances.”

Looking at the stats, the Rapids were able to make possession a 50-50 split. They dominated the ball for the last 15 minutes or so after going down 3-1 and had 19 shots to Austin FC’s 14. But that doesn’t accurately tell the story of the second half.

The Rapids gave the ball up in bad spots. They especially struggled when trying to play out the back. Two of Austin FC’s goals stemmed from turnovers on the Rapids’ side of the field.

If starting left back Sam Vines and starting center back Lalas Abubakar are able to return, that could significantly boost the Rapids’ backline.

“Both guys have been really coming along with hamstrings.” Fraser said. “We don’t and didn’t want to take any chances but they’re progressing really well and you know they’re pretty close.”

Not only would that add veteran and skillful presence, it would also allow Kellyn Acosta to play in his more natural position in center midfield.

This would give the Rapids multiple options in midfield and guys who are more comfortable with possessing the ball in the Rapids’ own half. For Austin FC’s second goal, Cole Bassett turned it over in the Rapids’ half from a spot that he really shouldn’t be put in as an attacking midfielder. It was a spot on the pitch where someone like Acosta is more comfortable possessing the ball from.

As they look ahead to the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday night, Fraser wants to see the team more synchronized.

“Just establish some sort of a rhythm,” Fraser said on what he wants to see on Sunday. “I didn’t feel like we really had any rhythm the week before.”

If Vines and Abubakar return, that solves most of the Rapids’ issues. But that doesn’t solve them all. They have struggled scoring from open play for over three years. They were first in set piece goals in 2019 and tied for fifth in set piece goals in 2020. Their only goal so far in the 2021 season came from a set piece.

They have to find a way to offer more of an attacking threat. Michael Barrios, whom the Rapids acquired in the offseason, has performed admirably since joining the team. He earned Man of the Match honors in the game against Austin FC. He can get the ball in the right spots, but he needs someone who can finish and no one on the Rapids has shown that ability so far this season.

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