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Rapids surge drowns Goats
Colorado Rapids midfielder Jeff Larentowicz takes a penalty shot against Chivas USA Saturday April 28, 2012 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The Rapids beat the Goats 4-0. (Photograph by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com.)
Kamani Hill got two goals, Jeff Larentowicz buried a penalty kick and rookie Tony Cascio found his second of the year as the Rapids ended a three-game losing streak.
The win moved Colorado to 4-4-0 and picked the team out of the eighth spot in the Western Conference. Chivas, which had won three 1-0 games on the road this season, fell to 3-5-0.
Recordsetter: The win also came with a record for Matt Pickens and the return of Conor Casey. Pickens picked up his 25th shutout, tying the club record of Joe Cannon. Casey got into the game in second half injury time as a substitute for Omar Cummings. Casey got off a shot and nearly got to put in a late one that instead fell to Hill in the 93rd minute.
Slow Start: The final score was no reflection of the first half. The Rapids spent the opening stanza stringing together passes, but failing to find the net.
Martin Rivero had an off night, and it showed in the attack. His passes weren’t quite on the mark, and when he got the team’s best chance shortly before half, his first touch was so heavy it carried into the ‘keeper’s arms.
Hot Finish: But from that cold start, the Rapids finally warmed up the night and opened up the Chivas defense. In the 50th minute, Cascio brought down the ball off his chest on a corner and quickly fired the ball home.
Cascio’s goal opened up the game as Chivas had to come out of its defensive shell and seek an equalizer. This exposed the Goats to fast breaks, and Cummings speed allowed him to set up Hill for a goal in the 80th minute. Three minutes later the lead was three as Larentowicz converted the penalty after being brought down in the box.
Quick Turnaround: Colorado gets little time to savor the win as the team travels to New England to face the Revolution on Wednesday in the first game of a three-game road trip.
Sunday the Rapids face Dallas at Pizza Hut Park, before getting a 10-day break before facing the rejuvenated D.C. United at RFK Stadium.
Return Home: Colorado’s next home match is May 19 against surprising Sporting Kansas City in the lone meeting between those two teams this season.
Colorado Rapids forward Conor Casey honors the crowd's support as he returns to league play after rupturing his achilles tendon in July of 2011 Saturday April 28, 2012. Casey replaced Omar Cummings in the 90th minute to a warm welcome of fans hoping to see their Rapid star. (Photograph by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)
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