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Rapids get it all, except…
Quincy Amarikwa readies to fire the fourth goal of the night against the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night. The Rapids rolled past the Union 4-1. (Photograph by Jessica Taves/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)
Colorado had it all on Wednesday night, an aggressive attack (two goals in the first 15 minutes and four for the game), a stifling defense (the lone Philly goal came on a misplay in the 90th minute), and a winning streak that is pointing to the playoffs (four straight wins at home).
In fact, this Rapids team is turning into everything that Denver area sports fans claim to love. Instead of orange, the defense is a burgundy crush (one goal allowed in the past four home games), and Jeff Larentowicz, Kosuke Kimura and the rest of the backline has delivered some crushing tackles. Instead of fast breaks, the team is rapidly piling up goals (13 in the past four games at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park), and a shooting star (Omar Cummings with seven goals in his past five games). Instead of time in the penalty box, the team had to play without one of its best attackers (Conor Casey) as he sat on Wednesday for yellow card accumulation.
Supposedly, this is what Colorado sports fans want. But, why aren’t they out there?
Officially, 10,165 witnessed Wednesday night’s 4-1 dismantling of the Philadelphia Union. And they rattled around in the stadium.
As a fan, it was tough to watch a team playing so well, after so many mediocre spells in the past few years, in front of so few. It’s also disheartening to see the sort of attractive soccer that all fans of the game hope for played before such a small gathering.
This weekend, against league doormat D.C. United, we get another chance to see what the Rapids (11-7-8, 41 points) can do as they chug toward the playoffs. Hopefully there will be a full house in Commerce City at 7 p.m. The Rapids are doing their best, now it’s time to see if local sports fanatics will get out and cheer.
Lopez Stare: New Rapid Macoumba Kandji picked up two assists and shredded the Philly backline on Wednesday night. It’s the passes he didn’t make late in the game, however, that merit mention here.
Claudio Lopez came on in the 70th minute for Pablo Mastroeni. With Colorado safely up 3-0, it made sense to rest the captain, and Lopez was an imaginative choice. The Argentinian often performs clinics on ball control. Late Wednesday, he also provided a non-verbal lesson in the needs of passing.
Kandji gathered a ball on the right side and went charging in a three-on-two break. As he neared the box, Kandji lowered his head and fired on goal. The rebound blew past a charging Quincy Amarikwa, who went to ground in a futile attempt to get something, anything, on the ball.
Lopez, running in on the left side was in the box, onside and unmarked when Kandji decided to fire a shot. The icy stare he gave the Senegalese forward cut across the field, over the wall and into the stands. The glower even made the rambunctious kids behind me sit down in fear.
A few minutes later, Kandji was in the same spot. Running forward with the ball he looked up, saw his teammate and delivered the ball to the onrushing Amarikwa, who calmly slotted it into the back of the net.
Forwards have to be a bit arrogant, but I think the lesson on passing was quickly learned.
Wallace Fires: The Rapids set pieces have gotten more inventive as the season as worn on. Wednesday night the Rapids, already up 2-0, used a set piece to get a favorable ball onto the left peg of Anthony Wallace. The young defender unloaded a knuckling shot that went through a gap that had opened in the wall. Goalkeeper Brad Knighton got a good look at the shot and gathered it into his chest.
While it didn’t score this time, if Wallace starts consistently delivering that sort of strike, it’s only a matter of time.
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