June 16, 2016 – Colorado Rapids welcomed Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC into Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for a fourth round tie in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The Rapids and Switchbacks met in the same round in 2015 with the Rapids winning 4-1. (Photo Credit: Corbin Elliott)
The two teams met last year in the very same round of the cup with the Rapids winning 4-1, lead by a brace from Dillon Serna.
The Rapids fielded a side that was very different than the usual starting eleven that Pablo Mastroeni has selected for the majority of the 2016 Major League Soccer season. Due to international duty Pablo is without Jermaine Jones and Shkelzen Gashi. Bobby Burling is missing following a procedure on his knee while Michael Azira is unavailable due to a cup suspension picked up while with Seattle Sounders in 2015.
The highlight in the Rapid lineup for the evening included Marco Pappa, who has been injured since mid-April with an MCL sprain, making his return for the evening.
Pablo Mastroeni fielded a strong Rapid side, with only Dennis Castillo and Conor Doyle being the two players who haven’t seen a lot, or any, action yet in the 2016 campaign.
The Switchbacks are a good side coached by former Colorado Rapids defender Steve Trittschuh. In 2015 the Switchbacks made it to the semi-final round of the USL Western Conference playoffs and they currently sit in second place in points in the USL with a record of 7-2-2.
The stands were largely empty for the cup tie and the empty stadium caused an eerie atmosphere for the match. Switchbacks FC fans, making the short 50 mile drive north from Colorado Springs, were vocal and outnumbered Rapids fans on the evening.
Marco Pappa returned to action for the first time since mid-April. (Photo Credit: Corbin Elliott)
The Rapids, as expected, dominated the match from first kick. They pushed deep into Switchback territory and were the more dangerous team throughout the opening minutes of the match.
Chances were limited in the first half hour. Dominique Badji had a decent chance in the 15th minute, but saw his chip tickle the top of the Switchback net, otherwise there were no other clear offensive chances.
In the 36th minute Marco Pappa saw a corner kick ricochet out of the box and the midfielder collected the ball and fired a curling effort at the Switchback goal. The shot beat the keeper but sailed just wide of the far post.
In the 40th minute the Switchbacks had a decent chance to take the lead against the Rapids. A quick counter attack saw attacking Aaron King through on goal with only Zac MacMath to beat, but as King wound up to shoot the ball took a bobble and the Colorado Springs forward topped the ball, sending it bouncing weakly into the hands of MacMath.
At halftime the score was 0-0.
The first half lacked the intensity and seemed almost as a training match for the Rapids. At times Marco Pappa seemed to up the tempo playing one touch passes and encouraging his teammates to play quicker through the midfield, but the results were tame.
The second half began a bit brighter for the Rapids. The players were finally willing to move for each other and get into passing lanes, but the final ball wasn’t there for the Burgundy and White.
Dominique Badji and Sam Cronin both had decent opportunities early in the second half but failed to work the keeper.
The Rapids got sharper and sharper as the second half wore on, finally finding the movement they should have started with and consistently pressuring the Switchback goal. Dillon Serna had a few venomous shots saved and it seemed like a mater of time before the Rapids found the opening goal.
In the 77th minute, still 0-0, Dillon Powers won a free kick about 30 yards away from goal and Marco Pappa struck a lovely free kick that crashed into the right Switchback post and bounced out for a goal kick.
Dillon Serna shoots to put the Rapids up 1-0. (Photo Credit: Corbin Elliott)
In the 84th minute the Rapids finally took the lead. A Marco Pappa corner kicked was cleared out of the box, but only as far as Dillon Serna. Serna struck the ball first time getting over the ball and striking a low volley through the crowded box. The ball took a deflection on the way through and keeper Billy Thompson didn’t have a chance as the ball nestled in the back of the net.
The goal was all the Rapids would need on the night as the match ended 1-0. It wasn’t the Rapids best match of the season in anyway, but the result was enough to see the team through to the fifth round of the U.S. Open Cup.
Colorado Rapids
US Open Cup
