Post-Game: DDC: Game 3

By: Michael Sandoval

In their third game of the Desert Diamond Cup Colorado took on Sporting Kansas City and it did not go well…if you just looked at the score line.  Our boys in burgundy lost to their mid-west rivals 4-1, but let’s not focus on the final score, as it is a preseason game.  Despite the score line the Rapids attack looked much better in this game then they did against Houston.  A big part of that may have come from newcomer Shkelzen Gashi seeing his first preseason minutes.       

            

The Albanian international (a quick hello to any new fans from Albania) was a breath of fresh air to our attack.  He may not have scored a goal, but you could see him all over the field.  He’s hungry for the ball and doesn’t hide from the game.  

Gashi got a good strike from just outside the eighteen in the 8^th minute of play, demonstrating his desire to get the ball into the net.  Kevin Doyle repeated his solid performance in previous games and Dominique Badji stepped up his play since Saturday.  The attack seemed more fluid and there may have been a talk about urgency since Houston.  The hunger for a goal was there but the finish is still lacking a bit with both Doyle and Badji getting chances in the first half, but both were easily stopped by the KC keeper.

Sporting earned a penalty and put it away in the 17^th minute, seemingly against the run of play. A second penalty was called a minute later which was also converted.  Zac MacMath had guessed right the second time around but was still beaten by a well-placed kick.

Despite the score line I was impressed with how the Rapids came out.  After being held to one goal in two games Colorado’s attack looked flat.  This was not true for the opening forty-five of this one.  Yes Colorado failed to score, but there was several exciting moments to enjoy, let’s hope the finishing is a little better come regular season.

The second half was not nearly as exciting with the Rapids putting on what was essentially the B team and Sporting filtering in more starters as the game progressed.  Eventually another penalty was given which was converted, and to top off things Sporting got one off a corner.

Towards the tail end of the game Colorado did finally manage to squeak one in when newcomer Dennis Castillo made an impressive run up the line and picked out a beautiful pass to fellow newcomer Zach Pfeiffer.  Pfeiffer took the shot first time from the top of the box and slide it passed Tim Melia for the Rapids lone goal.

I’m sure critics will look at this game and scream “last place again!” but it was a step forward, the attack looked better, and it was 3 PK’s.  (Cough cough…soft PKs).