When Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Joe Cannon went down with injury last week, the club unknowingly switched its clocks.
It is now officially Bouna Time.
Bouna Coundoul had several spectacular saves Saturday as the Rapids beat the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0 at The Home Depot Center, earning their first clean sheet of the season.
"Joe is really, really good. To me, he's the best goalie I've seen so far," Coundoul said. "But like they say, it's Bouna Time now."
Bouna Time began 10 minutes into last week's 1-0 loss to Columbus after Cannon injured his groin. Cannon did not train at all this week and did not travel to Southern California for the game.
No matter.
"He's a young goalkeeper, inexperienced but an outstanding athlete and he showed that tonight," Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo said of the Senegal-born 'keeper.
Jacob Peterson put the Rapids ahead in the 14th minute when he beat a pair of Galaxy defenders and slipped a shot past Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin. Through most of the first half, the Galaxy could not get close to the Rapids goal.
Towards the end of the first half, however, Kyle Martino finally got a shot on goal. Coundoul turned away Martino's 15-yard effort and pounced on the subsequent rebound with a pair of Galaxy attackers dangerously close to the ball.
With the hosts attacking throughout the second half, however, more balls found their way inside the Rapids penalty area. Coundoul, however, kept his cool and stopped John Wolyniec twice and Martino again, the latter with a brilliant diving save that was more difficult than the first-half save. Martino found space inside the area and unleashed a shot from straightaway but Coundoul dived to his left and knocked the ball out.
Rapids defender Mike Petke credited Coundoul's hard work and unselfish attitude when talking about the young goalkeeper's performance.
"One person's injury is another person's opportunity," Petke said. "Bouna's that type of guy that never got a shot, always showed up at practice, always worked his butt off."
As the game wore on, the Galaxy began throwing numbers forward but Coundoul stood firm as his faith in his team did not subside.
"The clock seemed like it was slowing down but I knew down the line we were going to win this game because I had a lot of confidence in myself and my team," Coundoul said.
Coundoul made his Major League Soccer debut a week ago. Although he gave up the game's only goal in the loss to Columbus, his work in training this week paid off.
"I don't want to brag, but I always work hard," Coundoul said. "My coach makes me work very, very hard in practice and I proved that I was ready. I just came and did what I'm capable of doing."
Despite the team's faith in Cannon, if he remains on the sidelines for an extended period of time the club will be OK, players said.
"Joe's the best goalkeeper in the league but it's great to know that when he's not here we've got someone like Bouna who can step it up," Petke said.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
