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Rapids Net Historic Win to Open Season
The Colorado Rapids reversed club history by winning a season opener on the road Friday night against Chivas USA, 1-0.
Forward Omar Cummings provided the game’s only goal in the 56th minute on an assist from Colin Clark. It was Cummings’ 17th goal of his career, and a well-deserved strike for a player who seemed to be involved in every attacking threat for Colorado.
The win represented just about everything the Rapids could have hoped for to start the campaign. The team picked up three points, on the road, and held on for a nervy shutout of a conference opponent. As satisfying as the win was, it was also improbable. Prior to Friday, the Rapids were 2-10-2 in season openers, with both wins coming at home. With the win, the Rapids have now won half as many road games — one — as they did all last season — two, and the season is only a game old.
After a scoreless first half, Cummings goal was one of the instinctual shots that strikers make. Cummings received Clark’s pass with his back to the goal, spun and fired, just nicking the right post on its way in. It was all the Rapids would need.
However, it looked for several moments that they would need more. The Rapids goal seemed to open up both sides as Chivas sought the equalizer and the Rapids looked for a counterattack. Matt Perkins and a new look backline, including Thursday’s acquisition Marvell Wynne as a centerback, met the challenges.
RAPIDS STARTERS: Matt Pickens, Kosuke Kimura, Marvell Wynne, Drew Moor, Danny Earls, Mehdi Ballouchy, Pablo Mastroeni, Jeff Larentowicz, Colin Clark, Conor Casey, Omar Cummings.
CHIVAS USA STARTERS: Dan Kennedy, Mariano Trujillo, Jonathan Bornstein, Michael Umana, Ante Jazic, Sacha Kljestan (c), Marcelo Saragosa, Michael Lahoud, Jorge Flores, Maykel Galindo, Osael Romero.
PICKENS PUNCH: Did Matt Pickens stay in shape with a cardio boxing program in the off season? No one keeps a stat on goalkeeper punches in a game, but that seemed to be his prefered action on balls floating in the box. It’s hard to argue with the tactic, but as a former defender, punches always made me nervous.
NO THORNTON: Zach Thornton, an MLS all-star and the owner of 12 shutout victories for the Goats in 2009, was on the bench for the season opener. Thornton, 36, is still recovering from a hip injury.
CLARK’S RETURN: Colin Clark started and played 78 minutes in his first meaningful game action since tearing his ACL in July. Playing on the left side, Clark had a quiet first half, with one 20-yard shot that rattled the advertising behind the goal, before feeding the ball to Cummings for the first goal of the season. Later, in the 74th minute, Clark and Cummings nearly connected again.
DEBUT ON THE DEUCE: Friday night’s season opener at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., was also the first broadcast on KWGN/Channel 2. “The Deuce,” as it is marketed, will broadcast 25 of the Rapids 30 regular season games.
NEXT UP: The Rapids face the Chicago Fire at 2 p.m. Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in the home opener.
Good to have story about the win.
Congrats to the Rapids.
And thanks to ColoradoSoccerNow for making it available to we outstaters!
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