COMMERCE CITY, CO (May 28, 2016) – The Colorado Rapids home winning streak is now over after a 1-1 draw with the Philadelphia Union. While this draw may feel like a loss, the club remains optimistic going into the Copa America Centenario break. The club will not play again until June 18th.
Pablo Mastroeni Positive After Rapids Bittersweet Draw Going Into Break
The Rapids were without Shkelzen Gashi and Jermaine Jones who were with their respective national teams. The Union were coming off a Wednesday night draw in Orlando and were playing at altitude for the first time this season. Both teams were at the top of their respective conferences, but the Rapids clearly had a chance to win this game considering Philadelphia’s tired legs.
Colorado came out on the front foot, combining very well and creating chances. Luis Solignac nearly had a goal when he fired a shot over the bar inside the box. The home side’s attack tapered off as the first half came to a close. “I think in the first half we were a little show moving the ball around,” said Rapids captain Sam Cronin in the post game. Philadelphia continued to absorb pressure and counter, but had trouble in the final third.
With weary legs, center backs Bobby Burling and Axel Sjoberg focused in on CJ Sapong to stymie the Union’s offense. “I think a little fatigue kicked in at the end, the altitude gets to guys,” said Union head coach Tim Curtin after the match.
As the second half progressed, the Rapids pressed the issue, outshooting the Union 9-3 in the second half (13-5 for the game). The league leaders continued to create chances, with Dillon Powers and Kevin Doyle nearly scoring. Doyle was active all night long, stretching the field with challenging runs at the Union defense.
Colorado finally got their breakthrough in the 87th minute when Cronin got a head to a Marlon Hairston cross. It was a goal the Rapids appeared to have earned with all the good work and close calls they had gotten all game.
Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni commented on Cronin’s goal after the game, saying “Sam has an uncanny ability to find those moments to sqeak past people in the midfield and find good spots in front of goal. Tonight he showed his class. That type of mentality in the midfield is what we need.”
It appeared the Rapids were going to see the game out, when poor marking in the box and a missed clearance led to a Brian Carroll goal in the second minute of stoppage time. The match ended 1-1. “To go down in the 87th minute can break a team,” said Curtin adding that he was “happy for the resilience that [the] group showed.”
While this was a draw that might have seemed like a loss, the Rapids were positive. “Realistically, we’re not going to win every game at home, but we’re still in great form,” said Cronin. Looking back on the season so far, the team “feel[s] really good about what [they]’ve done so far this season.”
Pablo Mastroeni really too something positive about the progression his team made through the 90 minutes: “In the second half, the guys were more driven, they believed they were going to win. For me, that was an important turning point in this game.”
This was the first home game where the team didn’t get the result they might have thought they deserved. Cronin seemed upbeat after the game with several players missing. That positively from a leader should encourage the young players. This result will not have them down.
Mastroeni really appreciated how the team came out in the second half. That is something to build on going forward. The Rapids had been surviving the last few games and it seems the break for Copa America comes at a perfect time. They can get away from the game, rather than potentially having them go through a slump. This Rapids bittersweet draw may have some positive takeaways, #KeepFighting and all.
