Post-Game: Columbus

By: Michael Sandoval

The Colorado Rapids extended their unbeaten streak to seven games with their 1-1 draw against the Columbus Crew Saturday night.  This was the Rapids’ third game in eight days and despite tired legs and tired minds our burgundy boys grinded out another result on the road. 

The opening forty-five belonged to the home side as the Crew seemed hungry to put the Kei Kamara drama behind them with a win against the team currently leading the race for the Supporters Shield.  Columbus got a chance in the 6^th minute when Federico Higuain found Harrison Afful atop the penalty area with space enough to let loose a shot.  The effort would go wide of Zac MacMath’s net, but the play set the theme for the half, and foreshadowed how the Crew planned on beating the Rapids back four. 

Shkezlen Gashi would get a chance at a free kick a few minutes later and while his shot was well placed Steve Clark was equal to the effort.   Following this, and a Jermaine Jones shot/cross which would hit the post, it was all Columbus.  In the 16^th minute Higuain would find Afful with a cross similar to the previous one and this time Afful would get his effort on target.  Unfortunately for him MacMath was quick to react and gave the midfielder little to shoot at and managed to push the effort wide.   

After two failed attempts at being the goal scorer, Afful switched to playmaker in the 23^rd minute, a transition which saw his team take the lead.  He would collect the ball inside the eighteen, faking a shot only to find Cedrick open atop the box.  Cedrick would make no mistake and placed the ball passed diving defenders and MacMath.

It was the second road match in a row where they conceded first, but as they did against Montreal, Colorado kept fighting and showed great character to draw level.  As they did against Sporting KC at midweek, the Rapids came out in the second half with more energy and determination. 

This spark lead to a 55^th minute equalizer from Kevin Doyle, and in typical Doyle fashion the goal came out of the air.  Gashi would take a corner and find Doyle with a well hit cross, with as much pace the ball had already, all Doyle had to do was guide it into the far corner.  Gashi may have come to score goals, but he is pretty damn good at setting them up as well. 

Colorado seemed happy with the tie but in the 73^rd minute they almost stole all three points.  Doyle took a shot from outside the area which seemed harmless but Clark was unable to hold onto the ball.  Gashi was rewarded for following up on the shot and the rebound fell to his feet, unfortunately he did not have much of an angle and shot the ball straight into a diving Clark.

Ola Kamara would get a late header to try and win it for the Crew, but saw his effort easily caught by MacMath.   With the draw Colorado managed to get 7 points out of a possible 9 in eight days, an accomplishment any fan would be proud of.  The Rapids face a Seattle team on Saturday which has seen its form improve after a shaky start to the season. 

Columbus Crew SC: Steve Clark, Corey Ashe, Gaston Sauro, Michael Parkhurst, Harrison Afful, Wil Trapp, Mohammed Saeid, Federico Higuain, Cedrick (Ethan Finley 60’), Justin Meram (Emil Larsen 79’), Ola Kamara..
Subs not used: Brad Stuver, Waylon Francis, Hector Jimenez, Rodrigo Saravia, Conor Casey.

Colorado Rapids: Zac MacMath, Mekeil Williams, Jared Watts, Axel Sjöberg, Marc Burch (Marlon Hairston 87’), Micheal Azira, Sam Cronin, Jermaine Jones (Dillon Powers 79’), Luis Solignac, Shkëlzen Gashi, Kevin Doyle.
Subs not used: Chris Froschauer, Dennis Castillo, Dillon Serna, Dominique Badji, Conor Doyle.