The Colorado Rapids didn’t play their best. They were the first to admit their defense played, frankly, poorly. Deshorn Brown missed a flurry of chances, and possession, for the second straight game, was overall sloppy.
But in the end, Colorado said, the result – and their fight – is all that matters.
The Rapids fought back from a 3-1 second-half deficit to collect a critical road point in Saturday night’s 3-3 draw with the Philadelphia Union at PPL Park. It wasn’t the prettiest sight, Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni admitted in his postgame comments, but he was proud of his team for fighting back.
“I think overall the most important thing is the character that the guys showed to come back,” Mastroeni told the media. “That’s the overwhelming feeling I’ve got from this game. Obviously, we have a long ways to go… but the ability and the mindset to overcome all of those things and find your way into a result is tremendous for this team moving forward.”
There were some flashes of brilliance for the Rapids.
Brown’s game-tying goal in the 86th minute was a thing of beauty, following a delightful turn and a perfect finish, tucked just inside the corner of Zac MacMath’s goal. And Dillon Serna’s 18th-minute finish was also terrific. But aside from those two high points, Saturday night featured plenty of sloppy play from the visitors.
The defense was at fault on all three goals, and there were plenty of other Union opportunities snuffed out by a string of great saves from goalkeeper Clint Irwin. Colorado conceded possession regularly, and finishing in the final third was a struggle for most of the match.
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And a point on the road is never anything to scoff at.
“We’re pretty happy with it,” said midfielder Dillon Powers, whose penalty kick goal sparked the Colorado rally, summing up his thoughts on the match in his postgame comments. “I think we’re pretty happy with it despite the tie. I feel like we could’ve gotten three points out of it.”
Chris Bianchi covers the Colorado Rapids for MLSsoccer.com.
