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Miscues, golazo doom Rapids
An own goal and a spectacular strike put the Colorado Rapids in a first-half hole, and then an ejection sealed the team’s fate in a 3-1 home loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night.
The loss ended a nine-game unbeaten streak for the Rapids (5-4-7, 22 points) and continued a run of disappointing results for the team at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park this season. LA improved to 9-2-7, 34 points, and remains atop Major League Soccer.
OOOOOF! Juan Pablo Angel's shot goes squarely into the midsection of Rapids defenders in the wall on Saturday night. (Photograph by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)
The result was as disappointing as it was unlikely for a Rapids side that controlled play early before a Chris Birchall cross was directed into the Rapids net by defender Drew Moor as he raced toward the end line.
The 1-0 lead for the Galaxy, who were playing without Donovan Ricketts, Landon Donovan and David Beckham, doubled in the 42nd minute when Juninho launched a golazo from 25-yards out into the far corner of the goal. ‘Keeper Matt Pickens reacted, but was unable to stop the shot.
Colorado opened the second half with three forwards as coach Gary Smith inserted Omar Cummings into the match and kept Caleb Folan and Conor Casey on the field. Cummings, who had been out with an ankle injury for six weeks, proved a threat and when his shot in the 64th minute pinged off the post, Casey tapped the loose ball into an open net.
The Rapids comeback came to an end 10 minutes later when Folan was shown red for a tackle on Juninho. LA iced the game with a Chad Barrett goal in the 80th minute. Wheat Ridge native Todd Dunivant set up the goal with a pass to Barrett.
An aghast Jeff Larentowicz reacts during Colorado's home 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night. (Photograph by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)
Home Letdown:
While the Rapids own a solid 3-2-3 record in away games this season, Colorado is a meager 2-2-4 squad at home. During the run to the MLS Cup in 2010, the Rapids lost only two home games, with the second home loss not coming until Oct. 2.
The team has not won at home since April 3, and a crowd of 18,277 couldn’t boost the team to that next home win on Saturday.
LA had not scored two or more goals against the Rapids at home during the regular season since June 25, 2003.
Missing Attack: Since scoring eight goals in the first three games — all wins — the Rapids have scored 10 goals in 13 matches. The Rapids have been shutout five times this season.
MIA Beckham: David Beckham did not travel to Colorado after suffering back spasms on Friday, according to the Galaxy. In five seasons with LA, Beckham has only played one match in Colorado. He went 90 minutes in a 4-0 loss to the Rapids in 2008.
Next up: The Rapids travel to Columbus to play the crew on June 26. Colorado returns home to Commerce City to face the Houston Dynamo for the annual fireworks extravaganza on July 3.
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