The Colorado Rapids played the top team in MLS, the Seattle Sounders, to a 1-1 draw Sunday in front of the first near full capacity crowd at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park since the pandemic.
The crowd of 17,104 (less than a thousand away from a sellout) knew they would be getting a Fourth of July fireworks display after the game and had hopes of seeing a different kind of explosion on the field. That did not come to fruition.
Despite 50-50 possession, the ball was in the Sounders’ half the majority of the game. The Rapids rattled off twice as many shots as the Sounders (14-7), but could not come away with three points.
“We played against the best defensive team in the league,” Rapids forward Diego Rubio said. “Can we finish better? Yes, of course, we have to. But if you see (Seattle) against other teams, they can’t even create chances. And we did it. We created so many chances.”
Seattle struck first when Sam Vines and Andre Shinyashiki combined for a turnover in the Rapids’ box. Alex Roldan took advantage and blasted a shot past William Yarbrough.
In the 58th minute, the Rapids got the spark they needed.
Michael Barrios picked up the ball on the right side of the goal, cut it into the middle and slotted it home across the goalkeeper in the bottom left corner.
“It was a perfect goal,” Rubio said. “He’s been quite unbelievable for us. He just needs to keep going and I think he’s going to help the team and help me and help everybody.”
Since being traded from FC Dallas in the offseason, Barrios has been a firecracker for the Rapids and one of the team’s best players. He has started every game and is now tied for the team lead in goals and is second in assists.
Fireworks shows typically have a grand finale, they save the best for last. The Rapids pushed late in the second half, but just could not get the fuse to light the game winner.
