Rapids top Sporting KC to stay in first place

May 11th, 2016 – Colorado Rapids welcomed Sporting KC to the mile-high city for a midweek Western Conference clash.
The two teams met already on April 13th at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City where Colorado came away with a 2-1 win after a second half goal from Shkelzen Gashi gave the Rapids three points. Kansas City hasn’t won a game since then and were looking to regain last seasons form against the Supporter’s Shield and Western Conference leading Rapids.

After Sporting lost to Houston Dynamo 0-2 at the weekend the players held a meeting to try and figure out what was wasn’t working and how to fix the problem. Trying to fix that issue against a Rapids team that has only conceded twice in five home games in 2016 is certainly a stern test, but with talent like Dom Dwyer, Brad Davis and Roger Espinoza, KC has the tools to right the ship.

Pablo Mastroeni, unconcerned about fatigue, nearly started the same eleven that featured against Real Salt Lake on the weekend. The exception was Shkelzen Gashi, who was injured on the evening and Dominique Badji got the start in place of the injured Albanian. Luis Solignac kept his spot in the team, starting the night on the right wing. Marco Pappa is still out but a certain Prost Amerika beat writer overheard that the midfielder is targeting the May 21st game against Seattle Sounders for a return to action.

For KC the starting eleven came out stronger than it did in Sporting’s first match against the Rapids. That match saw Peter Vermes rest several key players who eventually came in off the bench, the manager wouldn’t make the same mistake the second time around. However, Matt Besler and Benny Feilhaber didn’t start the match.

The match began flat with KC the better of the two teams. They were able to get some dangerous balls into the box but there was no one to get on the end of them.
Colorado struggled to get the ball into Sporting’s final third at all during the opening 20 minutes and being without playmakers Gashi and Pappa seemed to blunt the burgundy attack.

The first half was a drab 45 that didn’t display either teams best soccer. Each team created a few chances in the box, but there was no one on the end of any through ball or cross. The first half finished 0-0.

The second half began in in similar fashion and mimicked the first half until the 57th minute when Colorado had a great chance to go ahead. Kevin Doyle was hauled down by the last defender and on the ensuing free kick, Colorado tested KC’s goal. If it weren’t for Dom Dwyer clearing the ball off the line Colorado would have taken the lead.

The game began to open up after that attempt. Sporting had several players booked in the span of ten minutes as Colorado began to dial up the pressure. The play began to get chippy as frustration set in for each side.

In the 74th minute some clever play between Sam Cronin and Luis Solignac in the corner lead to Solignac beating a defender and slipping into the box. The Argentine drilled the ball towards Melia’s goal but the angle was too much for the shot to overcome. The pace of the shot caused the Sporting keeper to defect the ball straight out, back in front of goal, but there were no Rapids there to capitalize.
In the 75th minute Dillon Serna replaced Luis Solignac and the midfielder would have an huge impact just moments later.
Seconds after play restarted following the substitution Ike Opara saw a second yellow card for cutting Jermaine Jones off as he drove in to the corner. It was a foolish foul as Jones was contained by two defenders.

On the ensuing free kick Marc Burch’s cross was cleared from the box but only as far as Dillon Serna. The homegrown Coloradan slid across the 18 yard box before drilling the ball with his left foot, through heavy traffic, into the bottom right corner of Sporting’s goal giving Colorado a 1-0 lead.

The goal would prove to be enough for Colorado to take all three points. Sporting KC, down a man, tried to throw men forward but being shorthanded was too much for the side to overcome.

Pablo Mastroeni’s substitution, bringing on Dillon Serna proved to be a masterstroke, as it was on April 13th when Serna, again coming off the bench, drilled a shot of KC’s crossbar before Shkelzen Gashi’s followed up by scoring the rebound and giving Colorado the win.
For Colorado the win keeps them on top of the Supporter’s Shield and Western Conference standings. On Saturday the Rapids travel to Columbus to face the Kei Kamara-less Crew.

For Sporting KC their early seasons struggles continue as they languish in 6th place in the final Western Conference playoff spot. On Saturday Sporting KC will hope to get out of their slump as they host Orlando at Children’s Mercy Park.