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Casey strikes on a lively night
The Colorado Rapids have now perfected the art of the draw: The team can make a 1-1 tie look thrilling.
For the ninth time in 19 games, the Colorado Rapids came away with a share of the points. This time, it was Sporting Kansas City playing at home in Kansas City, Kan., on Wednesday night.
It was a fair result for a team that took a first-half lead and then played with fire in the final third of the match. Conor Casey got the goal in the 32nd minute when he trapped a long ball from Tyrone Marshall. The big forward turned and fired it home past Jimmy Nielsen from 25 yards out.
Casey’s goal was the offense that Colorado needed, but couldn’t produce despite long periods of domination in the first half.
In the second half, Graham Zusi got the equalizer in the 62nd minute as he collected a rebound from C.J. Sapong and buried the ball.
Over the final 30 minutes, the Rapids spent most of their time defending. Matt Pickens ultimately preserved the draw in stoppage time when he went from leaning right to leaping left and spearing the ball away off the post. The deflected shot was headed in.
With the draw, the Rapids road record is 3-3-4, and overall the team is 5-5-9.
Next Up: Colorado returns home to face the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps at 7 p.m. Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The Rapids are 2-2-5 at home and seeking the first win at DSG since April 3.
Records: With the ninth draw of the year, the Rapids are closing in on an odd mark. Colorado’s record for draws in a season is 11, set in 2004. The team has 17 games remaining, and the odds of three more draws are very high.
Injured and Out: Pablo Mastroeni came up limping in the first half and was replaced after a half hour. Joseph Nane, who played well in his spot, may be starting on Saturday. Not only did the team report that Mastroeni had a hyper-extended right knee, but Mastroeni also must sit a game for yellow card accumulation.
The Duo: Omar Cummings is still not 100 percent, but the squad is a much deadlier unit with him on the field. He and Casey started together for the first time since April 3, and the two worked well in attack.
Streaking: With his tally, Casey has scored in five of the past six matches he has played. Casey had to sit on Sunday against the Houston Dynamo after picking up a red card against Columbus. Quincy Amarikwa was out for a red card he got after the final whistle on Sunday.
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