COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — There’s still certainly some lingering disappointment in Colorado Rapids camp about giving up the lead twice in a tough defeat against the Seattle Sounders on Saturday, but there’s little time to dwell on the past.
The Rapids players were already back in Colorado early evening on Saturday after the 4-3 loss earlier that day. They’re back in action on Wednesday night against the New York Red Bulls (9:30 pm ET, watch LIVE online), followed by another home game Saturday against the New England Revolution.
WATCH: FULL MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Head coach Gary Smith wanted a minimum of 12 points from the team’s seven games in July. The defeat over the weekend left the team with just five points from the first four.
“Those are two very important games,” Smith said after the Seattle game. “It will be difficult to pick ourselves up after giving away the lead twice today, but we’ve done it before and we will do it again.”
The Rapids took their first lead after just one minute of the game with a well-taken Wells Thompson goal, his first of the season. Jeff Larentowicz hammered a left foot shot at the end of the first half to take the lead again at 2-1 after Seattle had equalized quickly through Álvaro Fernández.
But the Sounders’ three second-half goals — including two in the final 10 minutes — were too much to overcome for the Rapids, despite an impressive performance on the road and a 13-13 deadlock on shots in the match in one of the league’s toughest venues to play.
“We found ourselves in the game and didn't capitalize," Rapids captain Pablo Mastroeni said. “It is unfortunate to be up twice in this game and not walk away with anything. It was a hard-fought game and Seattle got on the right side of a few bounces.”
The Rapids also lost striker Conor Casey to an apparent Achilles injury, after he went down awkwardly near the end of the first half and banged his fist in frustration on the turf. There has been no confirmation of the extent of the injury.
Midfielder Jamie Smith, meanwhile, who for the second time this season got injured in a warm-up, failed to play Saturday but is likely to be back to play some role this week. Brian Mullan, who was left behind for the Seattle trip, will surely play a major role in the two games.
Forward Macoumba Kandji said last week said he was aiming for the New England game for his first return since MLS Cup.
