Post-game: @Montreal

By: Michael Sandoval

Saturday afternoon the Colorado Rapids played the Montreal Impact to a 2-2 tie, a result which put the Rapids atop the MLS standings (yeah you read that right, 1^st place baby!).   The game itself was nothing to celebrate, a tight and defensive affair despite the four goals.  Didier Drogba would get a goal but from the run of play was frustrated by center backs Axel Sjoberg and Bobby Burling, who got a lot of help from the play of holding midfielders Sam Cronin and Michael Azira. 

Drogba’s goal would come early and once again from a free kick.  Ignacio Piatti would get pulled down a few yards outside the penalty area and the Ivory Coast international managed to dip the shot over the wall and passed a diving Zac MacMath.  The Rapids were down 1-0 in the ninth minute. 

Despite the quick goal the remainder of the half was a rather dull affair, Colorado’s best chance coming from a headed effort from Luis Solignac which Evan Bush caught with ease.  Montreal weren’t able to muster up anything either, their best chance after the goal coming off a deflection which only resulted in a corner. 

The second half would see much more action, starting with a 47^th minute equalizer from Shkelzen Gashi.  The Albanian international would crash into the eighteen and got on the end of a Mekeil Williams’ cross.  Gashi’s second goal of the season would not keep the game tied for long, as Maxim Tissot would find the far corner with a blast from distance three minutes later.  The shot came from 25+ yards out but stayed low the whole ride into MacMath’s far corner. 

Determined not to walk away with no points, the Rapids showed tremendous character fighting back and not letting the second go ahead goal keep them down.  They were not able to answer back as quickly as the Impact, but did manage to find the equalizer in the 73^rd minute.  Gashi would send in another great free kick which bounced off Sjoberg’s thigh right into the path of Burling who scored his first goal of the season from point blank range.  Pablo seemed happy to exit with the tie and made no changes to his lineup until the 89th minute.  Only using one sub, and it coming so late, is an interesting tactic, one which I'd be happy to hear explained.

It was a good point on the road.  Colorado didn’t play their best and managed to tie the number one team in the East.  The focus turns to one of the most important games of the year (at least in my humble opinion), Salt Lake at home.  It will be a big night as FSL comes to Dicks Sporting Goods Park with a chance to win their fans the Rocky Mountain Cup.   This will be my last Salt Lake game for some time (moving to northern Cali) and am hoping for a glorious effort from our burgundy boys as a nice sendoff (I’m not picky,  3 maybe 5-0). 

Montreal Impact: Evan Bush, Ambroise Oyongo, Laurent Ciman, Wandrille Lefevre, Maxim Tissot, Kyle Bekker (Marco Donadel 63’), Patrice Bernier (Lucas Ontivero 80’), Harry Shipp, Dominic Oduro, Ignacio Piatti, Didier Drogba.
Subs not used: Maxime Crépeau, Victor Cabrera, Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé, Lucas Ontivero, Johan Venegas, Michael Salazar.

Colorado Rapids: Zac MacMath, Marlon Hairston, Bobby Burling, Axel Sjöberg, Mekeil Williams, Micheal Azira, Sam Cronin, Jermaine Jones, Shkëlzen Gashi (Dillon Powers 89’), Luis Solignac, Kevin Doyle.
Subs not used: Chris Froschauer, Marc Burch, Jared Watts, Dillon Serna, Conor Doyle.