Post-Game: Sporting KC

By: Michael Sandoval    

The Colorado Rapids moved to 6-0 at home after beating Sporting Kansas City Wednesday night.  Dillon Serna was the hero of the night, coming on as a sub and getting the game winner well into the second half.  The Rapids were without Shkelzen Gashi who was suffering from an illness, also without Marco Pappa from injury Colorado showed depth by not only getting the win, but also getting the clean sheet.

While they failed to score, Sporting KC did come out the hungrier team.  The Rapids seemed to stall once they entered the attacking third and KC seemed desperate to put their winless streak behind them.  This would lead to a chance for Roger Espinoza to burry a chance from the top of the eighteen but he put his effort well high of Zac MacMath’s goal.  Sam Cronin would get the next chance to score when a misplayed pass allowed him to take shot from distance at an empty goal, his shot would go just wide but not before giving Sporting keeper Tim Melia a big scare.

Both teams went into the locker room scoreless.  Colorado didn’t seem very threatening offensively but still managed to put up a tight defense against their mid-west rival.  MacMath commanded his area well when called upon but was not needed for most of the game.

The second forty-five minutes would see the momentum shift to the home side as the Rapids came out with a sense of urgency which was lacking in the first half.  The added pressure almost lead to a goal in the 57^th minute but Dom Dwyer managed to clear a Jermaine Jones effort off the line.

The chances would continue to come from Colorado but it wasn’t until Ike Opara received his second yellow, and marching orders, in the 76^th minute that the game would see its only goal.  On the ensuing free kick the ball would fall to Serna who beat his defender and sent a 25 yard blast into the low corner of Melia’s net.  Serna came on for Luis Solignac just moments before and made all the difference for Colorado.

The Rapids travel to Columbus to take on the crew Saturday night, kick is set for 7:30pm and go into the weekend atop the MLS standings once again.

Colorado Rapids: Zac MacMath, Mekeil Williams, Bobby Burling, Axel Sjöberg, Marc Burch, Micheal Azira, Sam Cronin, Jermaine Jones (Dillon Powers 87’), Luis Solignac (Dillon Serna 76’), Dominique Badji, Kevin Doyle.
Subs not used: Chris Froschauer, Jared Watts, Dennis Castillo, Marlon Hairston, Conor Doyle.

Sporting KC: Tim Melia, Saad Abdul-Salaam, Ike Opara, Nuno Coelho, Seth Sinovic (Amadou Dia 31’), Lawrence Olum, Roger Espinoza, Soni Mustivar, Brad Davis (Jacob Peterson 76’), Jimmy Medranda (Connor Hallisey 68’), Dominic Dwyer.
Subs not used: Alec Kann, Matt Besler, Paulo Nagamura, Diego Rubio.