Post Game: MNUFC - Burling's post game thoughts

By Brian Jennings

Colorado was in the driver’s seat Saturday night at home against the expansion Minnesota United FC, but two uncharacteristic goals given up by a usually stingy backline caused a shootout by Rapids standards in order to at least take a point from the draw.

After a slow start in which Minnesota seemed to throw caution to the wind and press their forwards high up the field, Colorado settled into their “defend from the top” mode causing a turnover deep in the MNUFC third.  Rapids forward Dominique Badji pounced on the loose ball and slotted it past Bobby Shuttleworth in the 17^th minute for the early lead.

It looked alike another long night for the visitors, but as Colorado defender Bobby Burling saw it the Rapids knew this wasn’t going to be a cakewalk.  “We anticipated them coming out with a fighting mentality and attitude just with the way their first two games went we knew they had nothing to lose.”

Burling said Colorado gave up a chance to really grab this match and put it away at one point but because they couldn’t they were in for a 90 minute fight.  “We had some service in there that we just couldn’t get on the end of tonight.  (Kevin) Doyle had a front post header that flicked back post but we didn’t have anybody on the post.”

“Just little things like that didn’t go our way but I think if we keep doing the right things those will fall for us, but at the same time we let ourselves down by letting them back in the game at 1-0.  We’re in control of that game and (if) we score the second goal and our foot’s really on their throat.”

Due to that, Burling told The Voice of C38, they were aware of just how important the opening minutes of the second half would be in determining a close scoreline.  “We said at halftime this next 15 minutes is where we’re going to win the game, let’s find our second goal, let’s keep focused mentally, but unfortunately we let them back in the game.”

In the 49th minute, defender Mekeil Williams was deemed to have fouled Minnesota’s Collen Warner in the box and the Loons converted the penalty kick to equalize.  “It’s a through ball and they were definitely tangled up but at the same time it’s a question of is he going to get to the ball, does the ball have too much pace on it?” noted Burling who had a bird’s-eye view of the play next to him.  “I was going-Tim (Howard) was going to the ball as well so that was the one thing that was frustrating to me.”

“I thought there was a good spell in that first half 20-25 minutes into the game where we found the game a little bit,” admitted Bobby who is stepping in for an injured Axel Sjoberg for an extended period.  “I thought they were the brighter team the first 5 minutes out of halftime and I think that’s something we need to address as well.  At the same time we got into halftime and said the next goal is the most important and we definitely let them back in the game with that penalty.”

Colorado winger Marlon Hairston, who was knocked out of the game resulting in a MNUFC going down to ten men to end the match, saved the Rapids regular season unbeaten record with a driving header on the doorstep to claw back even. 

Not happy with “lost” points, Burling assured fans the Rapids were definitely not pleased with just the one point.  “We showed fight to get back in it tied 2-2 but at the end of the day we want three points at home with a man up.”