Wells Thompson still doesn’t know if his performance Tuesday in the Rapids’ U.S. Open Cup victory over Kansas City will be enough to get him a starting spot against Toronto on Sunday.
Signed from the New England Revolution along with Jeff Larentowicz in the preseason, Thompson has played a bit part in all three of the Rapids’ league games so far, coming on as an impact player off the bench around the hour or so mark each time.
On Tuesday, he scored both goals in Kansas City as the Rapids progressed to the next play-in round of the Open Cup.
“Colin [Clark], Mehdi [Ballouchy], Jamie [Smith] -- there’s a lot of different guys,” Thompson said of the various wide players the Rapids could use. “I know my time will come; I have to be patient and wait for my opportunities.”
Tuesday’s victory was vital to the team, Thompson said. After a promising start to the season in the first two games followed by the frustrating loss Saturday, the squad didn’t want to come back from Kansas with nothing to show for the trip.
“It was such a blessing to win the game the other night,” Thompson said. “The team really came together. Our Tuesday win was huge -- a big morale-booster.”
And Thompson’s own morale should certainly be boosted after his two goals took the team through. In the club’s 1-0 loss to Kansas City last Saturday too, he made a great run into the penalty area and played well after coming on, a move which led to the disputed disallowed goal that could have equalized for Colorado.
Kansas is now a thing of the past, and the squad is looking forward to the Sunday game against a struggling Toronto side at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
“I think it’s important to look at every game as a must win,” he said. “We know Toronto has been struggling, and we would like to get them while they are down.”
Whether coach Gary Smith picks Thompson to start or not this weekend, the 26-year-old North Carolina native said he’s happy to be in his locale in Denver.
“I’m getting some time, I was hoping for change” Thompson said. The guys are awesome, phenomenal. The coaching staff is great and I think they believe in me.”
