Postgame Notes: Rapids Keep Playoff Hopes Alive with 3-1 Win over Vancouver
September 11, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Colorado Rapids News Release
The Big Picture
The Colorado Rapids (9-12-9, 36 pts) kept their playoff hopes alive as they overcame an early deficit to secure a 3-1 win at home over Vancouver Whitecaps FC (9-14-7, 34 pts) on Saturday night. Diego Rubio scored the Rapids’ game-winning goal, his 32nd in Burgundy, becoming the fifth-highest goal scorer in club history.
Notable Numbers:
F Gyasi Zardes opened the scoring for the Rapids in the 20th minute, his 10th goal of the season and ninth in Burgundy. Zardes has now recorded double digit goals in a regular season for the fifth time in his MLS career, becoming the 14th player in league history to have at least five 10-goal seasons.
With his assist on F Jonathan Lewis’ goal tonight, M Jack Price reached 35 assists all-time in Burgundy, second-most in club history. Price made his first appearance since August 6 tonight after returning from an upper body injury that saw him miss the Rapids’ last six games.
F Diego Rubio scored his 13th goal of the season in the 33rd minute of tonight’s match, surpassing Chris Henderson for sole possession of the fifth-most goals in Rapids history (32).
The goal was also his 12th game-winning goal as a member of the Rapids, tying Paul Bravo for most in club history.
Rubio has now contributed to a goal in each of his last seven home matches (five goals, two assists).
Tonight’s win extended the Rapids home unbeaten run to six matches.
Colorado attempted 24 shots tonight, their highest in a single match this season.
COLORADO RAPIDS HEAD COACH ROBIN FRASER
General thoughts:
“I thought we played well enough to deserve to win. The engagement from start to finish I thought was excellent, and as a result, even when we gave up a soft goal against the run of play, it didn’t change anything. I felt like the guys’ mentality was really good from the beginning and as I look at the result tonight, I think that that’s a big reason as to why we won, is that I thought their mentality was excellent from the beginning and very focused and very engaged. That’s really all we can do at this point is try to take care of what we can control and the only thing we can control are our games.”
On midfielder Jack Price’s return from injury:
“Yeah, it’s great to have Jack [Price] back. He’s a calming influence. He’s a very intelligent player who has played a lot of games for this team and has a very subtle understanding of what we need when we need it. Having said that, I thought Felipe [Gutiérrez] was very, very good and it’s really exciting to have Jack back because I think it just adds so much more not just quality, but also depth to our midfield. It’s certainly a nice situation to have Jack come back and I think he helps us in a number of different ways. So, we’re certainly looking forward to him remaining healthy.”
COLORADO RAPIDS MIDFIELDER JACK PRICE
General thoughts:
“Yeah, I felt like that was more of us, what we’re used to, especially here at home. Going a goal down, it wasn’t easy to rally and get back in front. I thought all the lads did a great job before I came on and I thought we, after that, once we got the second, that we could have had three or four. I thought we should have probably killed them off a bit earlier, but then obviously we get the third goal and I thought it was pretty good. The game management was good. You know, we controlled it side-to-side. I still think we could have been a bit better at times instead of trying to go for that fourth, but no, happy, happy. Really proud of the boys tonight and you know it was a big win and we’re still in touching distance.”
On his return from injury tonight:
“Tired, it’s been awhile. No, but seriously, it felt fantastic to be out there. This year has been a bit tough this year. I’ve had a few injuries here and there, but no, it felt really good to be out there. Just, you know, feel the competition, feel a tackle, a header, you miss that sort of side of it. It’s like the stuff that you don’t think you’d miss but you do, and then obviously to win, even better.”
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