Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul was a happy man Saturday night.
Coundoul's play helped the Rapids start the season with a 4-0 shutout of the L.A. Galaxy in front of a record crowd of 18,713 fans at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. But it was the way the Rapids played in front of Coundoul that left him feeling optimistic Saturday.
Colorado exploded for four goals in one game after scoring just 29 goals in 30 games last season. The Rapids did not score four goals in a game once last year, the last four-goal outing coming nearly three years ago.
"Everybody worked as a team," said Coundoul, who made two saves Saturday and broke up several dangerous crossing passes from Galaxy forward David Beckham. "There was not one single guy. Everybody put it on the line and if everybody plays like this I think we will win a lot more games than we lose this year."
Four different players scored for the Rapids, but one player did seem to provide a spark. Newly acquired midfielder Christian Gomez play seemed to be just what was missing to the Rapids attack last season.
Gomez, 33, started the play that led to the Rapids first goal Saturday on a free kick from 24 yards. His initial shot was blocked by the Galaxy wall of defenders, but he followed up with a shot that hit the post, and midfielder Terry Cooke put the deflection high into the corner of the net over Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin for a 1-0 lead.
Gomez, Major League Soccer's MVP in 2006 with D.C. United, then scored the Rapids second goal on a penalty kick after getting tackled in front of the net.
"You can see what Christian can do," Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo said. "No question about it. I don't think we have seen anything yet. We know the qualities of Christian Gomez going forward, and we've tried to surround him with quality players. It worked perfectly tonight."
Even Coundoul agreed that one man can make a difference to the Rapids offense.
"Every team needs a generator," he said. "Somebody that is in the middle that produces electricity and controls it and distributes it. Last year we were lacking that kind of player. Having Gomez on the team boosts the team's energy."
Beckham and Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz almost teamed up for a goal in the game's eighth minute when Beckham sent a long pass to Ruiz's foot. The play produced the Galaxy's first shot on goal, but Coundoul stopped Ruiz's shot. Beckham had five free kicks in the first half, but hardly touched the ball in the second half.
"It was a tough night," Beckham said. "I think going forward we need to get the ball more to Ruiz. We did that a few times early, but then it just wasn't happening for us."
Clavijo cautioned that Saturday's victory was just the first of 29 more games. But he was proud of the way his offense has already started to develop.
"I thought we did very well," he said. "Throughout the game we possessed the ball well. We never really allowed them to get any rhythym to the game, playing against a good team with great players.
Brad Byler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
