COMMERCE CITY — Already out of the playoff picture after last weekend’s loss in Portland, the Colorado Rapids could only play the role of spoiler Wednesday night.
The Rapids stormed back from a 1-0 first-half deficit with two second-half goals, only to give up a late equalizer in a 2-2 tie against the Vancouver Whitecaps at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Diego Rubio scored his second goal in as many games for Colorado (4-15-11, 23 points), while Cole Bassett added a fourth goal contribution in his last four, as he found the back of the net in the 68th minute. However, Vancouver scored on a pair of corner kick goals, including a Triston Blackmon 78th-minute equalizer.
Here are three takeaways from the tie:
Sitting back and slipping up
Bassett was perplexed as to why the Rapids haven’t been able to hold onto leads as the team slipped to 0-6-2 when giving up two goals in a game. For him, there has to be a better commitment to find a third goal rather than be comfortable with holding a narrow, one-goal lead.
“I think there always is tired legs and tired minds but the fact is every time we get a lead here, we sit in and that’s not how it should be,” Bassett said. “I don’t know what it is about us because we say it, we say ‘let’s go for more.’ But every single time we seem to let them keep coming at us and it causes opportunities for them. … For us, after we score the second goal, we have to put them away.”
Bombito bombs forward
One positive was rookie center back Moïse Bombito, who frequently got forward down the right-hand flanks and was fearless on the ball. He was able to get past defenders with his speed and whipped in a pair of solid crosses, but showed the recovery speed to get back on defense as well.
“That’s a big ask, but I thought he took the task really well,” interim coach Chris Little said after the game. “I felt like when he got on the right side, his natural side, he was more confident. What I really liked was the timing of his runs to get forward and the intent and timing was right. Him and Calvin (Harris) was right and I thought he caused Vancouver a lot of problems. To ask Moïse to play out of position, I thought he did a really good job tonight.”
For Bombito, a Canadian who played two seasons in junior college before breaking out late, the confidence gained this season has been invaluable.
“I was playing on that side when I was younger and that’s when I got the ease on the ball and how I get in tight spaces and stuff,” Bombito said. “I felt pretty comfortable out there and it was also really good to play with Calvin and just understand me.”
Little not satisfied
The interim head coach still wants to see more from his side in the final four games. While the Rapids have scored more under Little (7 goals in four games) than previous head coach Robin Fraser (7 goals in 15 league games dating back to May), the Edinburgh, Scotland native wants results.
“When you draw at home, you can’t be pleased with that and especially when you’re leading 2-1,” Little said. “We have to get back to a mentality where we’re winning games at home, so, am I pleased? No.
“I’m pleased with aspects of what we’re doing, a commitment, a fight, a spirit to the group. We’re looking goal-dangerous and there was a spell where we weren’t and are trying to bring the confidence back, but we need to start turning those into winning games as well. When we do that we’ll be happy.”
Colorado hosts playoff outsiders Austin FC (9-13-8, 35 points) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday back at DSGP.
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.
