Post-Game: @ San Jose

By: Michael Sandoval 

The Colorado Rapids opened their 2016 season…by getting shut out 1-0 by the San Jose Earthquakes.  As a fan it was a disappointing conclusion to a game we all wanted to go another way.  Losing is hard enough, but the loss isn’t what stings here, it’s the fact we were yet again unable to put the ball in the back of the net, despite having more chances.

The first of those chances came in the 13^th minute when veteran Sam Cronin went streaking through the eighteen yard box and let go a hard shot at David Bingham.  The San Jose keeper had the angle easily covered and made sure not to give a rebound to Kevin Doyle who was eagerly awaiting one.  Quincy Amarikwa had the best chance for San Jose in the first half when the former Rapid used his speed to break away from some sloppy defending.  Amarikwa managed to get into the penalty area but before he could test Zac MacMath Rapids defender Jared Watts came in from behind and managed to poke the ball away at the last second.

The first half was forgettable for both teams, with the above chances the only real events worth mentioning.  Both Dillon Powers and Doyle took shots at net but neither one tested Bingham.  On the other end MacMath was never truly tested.

In fact the only quality look the Earthquakes got on net came in the opening minute of the second half.   Alberto Quintero was given too much time on the ball, which he used to find Chris Wondolowski with a pinpoint cross.  Wondo made no mistake from just outside the 6 yard box and targeted the ball down with his head, giving MacMath little chance at a save. It was a good cross, and a good finish. 

For the remainder of the game the Earthquakes were all too happy to sit back in their own half and absorb pressure from Colorado.  Dominique Badji managed to find some space in the 65^th minute and got a hard shot at Bingham but the shot was too close to the keeper.  Shkelzen Gashi would get the next chance two minutes later when a loose ball found its way to the Albanian’s foot.  Our newest Designated Player didn’t quite seem to be in full fitness and it showed with his somewhat wild strike at the ball. Gashi’s shot went very high and he was immediately replaced by Luis Solignac. 

It what said during the telecast Gashi was suffering from a bug earlier in the week and he might not have been at a 100% for the opener.  I’ll fully admit I was one of the fans who was expecting a lot from Gashi right from the get go, but the reality is he needs a few games to adjust to the MLS before we really start seeing him shine. 

MacMath got his chance to shine late in the game when San Jose broke out on a counter which resulted in Tommy Thompson being one on one with the Rapids goalkeeper.  Thompson tried to beat MacMath to his near post but the 24 year old goalie was equal to the task and kept the Rapids in it throughout the dying moments.

In those dying moments Colorado had several chances to tie the game, which would have made MacMath’s save all that more important.  The first of which came in the 85^th minute when newcomer Eric Miller let loose a howler from just outside the eighteen.  The shot looked destined for the far corner but yet again Bingham was equal to the challenge and pushed the ball over the net for a corner.  Badji got another chance to tie it up moments later when the ball fell to him deep inside the penalty area.  His effort was not the quality you’d expect and never challenged the Quakes goalie.  The final opportunity came off a cross from Miller (who in my opinion should have just shot this one) looking for a streaking Marco Pappa.  The ball bounced off San Jose’s defender and agonizingly nicked the outside of the goalpost. 

Any neutral fans would see the 1-0 score line for a San Jose/Colorado game and not be surprised.  Let’s face it, this is what everyone was expecting.  If you watched the ESPN FC “highlights” of the game you noticed two things.  One, they only showed one highlight, the goal.  Two, they never even mentioned the Rapids!  Yea, not talked about, not even an afterthought!  We were literally just the team Wondo scored against.

For those who are against the Tim Howard move…at least once he is here, we’ll be mentioned.  We won’t be the team that just happens to be in someone else’s highlight real.  We’ll be relevant.  The 2016 Colorado Rapids will be a lot different from the 2015 Colorado Rapids, but until they do something, that’s all anyone will ever see.  The last place team, being shut out again. 

Quakes: David Bingham; Marvell Wynne, Victor Bernardez, Clarence Goodson, Shaun Francis (Kip Colvey, 46’); Alberto Quintero (Tommy Thompson, 76’), Simon Dawkins, Anibal Godoy, Shea Salinas (Matheus Silva, 89’); Quincy Amarikwa, Chris Wondolowski.
Subs not used:  Bryan Meredith, Adam Jahn, Innocent, Mark Sherrod.

Rapids: Zac MacMath; Marlon Hairston (Marco Pappa, 79’), Jared Watts, Axel Sjöberg, Eric Miller; Micheal Azira, Sam Cronin; Dominique Badji, Dillon Powers, Shkëlzen Gashi (Luis Solignac, 67’); Kevin Doyle.
Subs not used: Chris Froschauer, Mekeil Williams, Conor Doyle, Bobby Burling, Dillon Serna.