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Rapids on the doorstep
Before the season, my Eurosport catalog arrived with an MLS preview from the scribes at “FourFourTwo” magazine.
The insert detailed the Rapids as one of the worst teams in the league. Pablo Mastroeni was called out for being past his use-by date, Conor Casey was listed as a failure since returning from Germany, and the team was picked to finish in or near the cellar.
In a particularly snarky move, under the heading of star players, they listed no one.
OK, that was spring and it’s now fall, and I am happy to report that “FourFourTwo” was off the mark when it put together the preview and looking even more foolish now.
In fact, those two derided as non-stars — Mastroeni and Casey — delivered the two goals that left the Rapids tied with Columbus over two games. After a scoreless 30 minute overtime period on Saturday, the Crew and Colorado settled in for penalty kicks, and the Rapids won the lottery when Brian Carroll fired high.
Now, the Rapids will host San Jose for the Eastern Conference final at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 13. Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, which had to wait three years to host its first playoff game, now hosts its second with a trip to the MLS Cup on the line. Right now, anything seems possible.
Against San Jose: The teams split the season series with each winning at home. The Rapids got the first glimpse of how good Chris Wondolowski was going to be when they met this year in San Jose. Wondo’s screamer was the difference as the Earthquakes won 1-0 on May 1.
Colorado’s goal was much less scintillating at DSG on Aug. 7. Goalkeeper Jon Busch misplayed an Omar Cummings cross/shot and dumped the ball into the goal as the Rapids won 1-0.
Clever Selections: Claudio Lopez was inserted late in Saturday’s game as the Rapids went to a 3-5-2 lineup. While Lopez’s play did not produce the critical Casey goal in the 84th minute, his insertion was no less inspired. Coach Gary Smith looked to his veterans to deliver on penalty kicks, and they did.
Casey, Macoumba Kandji, Jeff Larentowicz, Lopez and Julien Baudet each hit from the penalty spot. Of those five, only Kandji was a surprise; the relative novice in a field of veterans. It would have been interesting to see who would have shot sixth for the team.
Tickets Here: Rapids Conference Championship match tickets are available now for purchase at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park Box Office, via phone by calling 303-825-GOAL, at the kiosks at any Colorado Dick’s Sporting Goods location, or online at ColoradoRapids.com or TicketHorse.com.
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