The Colorado Rapids entered the 2019 MLS regular season with an overhauled roster featuring much more MLS experience, but the results have largely remained the same as in 2018, with the latest being a 4-1 blowout loss at home in Week 5 against the Houston Dynamo.
Alberth Elis put on a clinic for the visitors with a hand in all four goals. Only a late consolation penalty by Kei Kamara gave the home fans anything to cheer on the night. For the Rapids, the lopsided loss leaves them insisting enough is enough.
“We cannot let a team come into our house and do what they did today,” said midfielder Cole Bassett.
“In the first half [Elis] killed us,” Bassett continued. “He’s a good player. We went through this before the game and we know how to defend him, but during the game we just shut off at the wrong times.”
Colorado manager Anthony Hudson had a message for the supporters before breaking down his team's issues.
“Firstly, we want to apologize to the fans who stayed with us to the end and cheered especially the fans behind that goal, the C38,” Hudson said in his opening postgame remarks. “We are incredibly disappointed and we all know that wasn’t good enough.
“I think the biggest problem for us was the start of the game, again. The reality is we didn’t deal with their dangerous players -- Elis. We were far too passive in the first half and put ourselves in a hole. At halftime we have to say a few words and then we get a reaction and we were far better in the second half. But overall it’s not good enough.”
Hudson insisted his team was briefed on Houston's potent attack ahead of time, and the ultimate issue was a question of mentality among the players, something they will aim to fix as they seek their first win of 2019 in their sixth try when they take on Orlando City in Florida in Week 6.
“There was nothing we didn’t expect, or talk about or look at. We were prepared going into the game and we had all the right information,” Hudson said about the Dynamo matchup. “What we need to look at — because now it’s happened a few times — we’ve started games slowly and it’s a psychological thing we have to address.
"And so the tactics is not really the issue because we had the same tactics in the second half. We were a bit more aggressive, positive and braver [in the second half] and at that stage had nothing to lose. It’s not a good day and we’re all disappointed and we have to improve.”
