After a first-half Rapids lead and last-minute Houston equalizer, Colorado drew the Dynamo at PNC Stadium on Saturday night for the first tie of the 2022 season. Midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye found the back of the net for the Rapids late in the first half, but Houston ramped up the intensity after halftime and in the waning moments of the game evened the score and keep the Rapids to one point instead of all three.
"We just have to have the confidence to keep doing the things that we do well, and if you look at the first half, we did a really good job of keeping possession, and unbalancing Houston and making it difficult for them to deal with us," said head coach Robin Fraser after the draw. "So in terms of our building and our growth, that certainly has to be another step for us, which is when a team does step up their intensity and things get tighter that we're still able to do the things that we do well."
Kaye put the Rapids on the board first in the 42nd minute after finding himself unmarked on the back post on a Jack Price corner kick. Danny Wilson and Houston's Steve Clark went head to head in the six, but it was Wilson who got the touch on the ball to deflect back to a waiting Kaye for the open slot into the net.
Wilson and Price recorded an assist each on the effort, with Price's helper marking his 34th in MLS. The captain now ties Rapids' alum Terry Cooke for 2nd place on the club’s all-time assists list, and has recorded 26 assists off set pieces since joining the club.
Kaye's goal marks his second created from a set piece opportunity in two games.
"Colorado has always been a good team on set pieces," said Kaye postgame. "[Chris Sharpe] does a great job getting us there during the week so we know exactly where to go. Our movement is good and Pricey serves a good ball. We've been very good at set pieces and we want to continue that but I think it's a willingness for everyone to get some good movement in the box and get to their positions and hopefully the ball continues to go into the back of the net for us."
The Rapids spent the second half chasing a second goal to put the nail in Houston's coffin. A Diego Rubio delivery behind the Dynamo line and a long Auston Trusty run nearly doubled the Rapids lead as the defender went one-on-one with Clark, but couldn't find the angle for a goal.
Saturday's match saw physicality from both sides, as 15 fouls were committed and six yellow cards were shown.
Meanwhile, Houston threw everything into their attack in a last-ditch-effort to equalize, eventually finding the back of the net in the last minutes of the game to even the score. Following a William Yarbrough goal kick, the Dynamo's Memo Rodriguez and Tyler Pasher connected on a through ball to draw Yarbrough out of his box and Pasher slipped it by to secure the draw.
Colorado's point gives them a five-game unbeaten run at PNC Stadium (3-0-2), dating back to July of 2018.
Up next, the Rapids will take on rival Real Salt Lake at home on April 2 to kick off the Rocky Mountain Cup. Kickoff in DICK'S Sporting Goods Park is set for 7:00 p.m. MT.
