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Stars align for LA, Rapids fall
The Colorado Rapids asked the question of whether it was possible on Saturday night to have a “good” home loss, and the answer appeared to be a definitive maybe.
The Rapids fell at home to the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1. The loss was the third in a row for the Rapids and dropped them into the bottom three in the Western Conference with a 3-4-0 record.
However, it was a score that flattered the visitors and nearly could have been a point for the home side. LA got its goals when Marvell Wynne nearly saved a Mike Magee shot from a David Beckham cross and instead headed the ball into his own net. The other first half Galaxy goal came from a moment of class when Landon Donovan simply beat right back Kosuke Kimura to a Robbie Keane pass for a score.
Those goals in the opening 45 minutes appeared to be the start of a Galaxy romp. However, Omar Cummings delivered a 63rd minute strike that halved the lead. In front of the second largest crowd in Dick’s Sporting Goods Park history, the Rapids continued to surge forward looking for an equalizer.
Forward Omar Cummings of the Colorado Rapids takes a penatly shot against Goaltender Josh Saunders of the Los Angeles Galaxy Saturday. Cummings' shot was blocked. (Photograph by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com.)
Andre Akpan went down in the penalty area, drawing a penalty kick in the 91st minute. Cummings, whose earlier strike moved him to three goals on the year, stepped up for the spot kick. Josh Saunders, however, was the equal. His save preserved the LA win.
Striking Back: Cummings equalled his 2011 goal total with his third strike of the season.
Still Waiting: Conor Casey’s comeback will have to wait at least one more week. The forward had hoped to make his season debut on Saturday, but was left waiting after being felled by strep throat earlier in the week.
Starting shuffle: Colorado went with a new lineup. Joining Cummings up top in the 4-3-3 were Tony Cascio and Brian Mullan. In the middle were Jaime Castrillon, Jeff Larentowicz and Kamani Hill. Across the back were Luis Zapata, Wynne, Drew Moor and Kimura. Martin Rivero, who had started the three previous games at midfield, was left on the bench.
Next Up: Colorado hosts the other LA team, Chivas USA, at 7 p.m., Saturday, in Commerce City.
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