COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – On Sunday night, Jonathan Lewis scored his second goal of the year. It helped Colorado Rapids defeat Seattle Sounders 1-0. It was his first goal since March 12th. The 24-year-old winger has been doing multiple things well recently. Perhaps with this fortuitous goal, he’s found his shooting boots again.
“Pest” Jonathan Lewis Hoping Sunday’s Goal Leads to Many More
Making his own luck last night:
Let’s start with the goal itself. Many things outside of his control went right for him to get credited with the winner last night. It was not a solo feat. Michael Barrios runs onto the ball in space after Diego Rubio and Jackson Ragen canceled in the air. Sounders Twitter wanted a foul called.
Eventually Rubio goes for goal. The ball goes off the goalkeeper, off Yeimar Gomez towards goal. Lewis taps the ball over the line but it was already heading in. Rubio had the most important contribution on the play for a Rapids perspective. The decisive touch belongs to Yeimar. Regardless, Lewis has been credited with the goal.
“They told me I was going to get my reward. It’s funny. I knew when [Mark-Anthony Kaye] got injured, today is going to be the day I score. I don’t know how it was going to happen, but I knew I was going to score,” Lewis said when asked what the message was from the coaching staff before he subbed in.
Soccer is a funny game. Whether it was serendipity or luck meeting preparation, the goal drought is over.
Jonny goal?? Own goal?? We’ll take it either way!!#COLvSEA pic.twitter.com/TEfbKXG5ZX
— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) May 23, 2022
There’s more to the game than scoring goals:
As Robin Fraser’s argued before, scoring is one of many things his attacking player can do to help the team win.
“We want him to score. For all the players, it’s how they fit into the team scheme. Johnny has been really good for a couple of weeks and consistently dangerous. His diligence defensively is huge for us. When he plays aggressively he’s hard to deal with because of how fast he is. When he is confident, he’s extremely threatening. We saw that tonight,” Fraser told Last Word.
Lewis has had a good few weeks in many regards. Colorado’s defense starts with the press of their forwards. Lewis has been good individually and as a part of that unit. That’s led to turnovers. He’s been aggressive and direct when that happens, winning fouls and free kicks. There’s been scoring chances. They’ve just gone right at the keeper.
74’ Lewis, getting exactly that shot, from exactly that angle, and putting it right into the GK’s chest,
is very very familiar.#Rapids96
— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) May 12, 2022
“If I can be a pest going against defenders defensively, then try to steal the ball from that and it will change my game. And I think that everyone on our team is doing that is being a pest and making it difficult,” Lewis added.
This defense first approach leads to offensive. Even when it doesn’t lead to goals, it makes them every tough to beat.
Last Word: The first of many?
Diego Rubio has been the only consistent goal threat this year. Lewis can do many things to help the team win, but for them to thrive they need scoring options outside of Rubio and Gyasi Zardes.
“Robin’s been saying to me to just be aggressive. Since the Portland game, I’ve really started to find my footing. I’m hoping this goal is going turn into a bunch. I hope I go on a scoring tear now,” Lewis said reflecting on his goal.
If that happens, this lucky goal could be a season defining moment for Jonathan Lewis.
Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken, Last Word on Soccer.
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