For the second time in six days, the Colorado Rapids stunned a first place team, exploding for a season-high three goals and all but dominating the New England Revolution from the outset in a 3-0 victory Thursday evening at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
Jovan Kirovski scored twice in the first half, the second from a penalty kick, and Omar Cummings finished off the result with his first career MLS goal as the Rapids made a big jump back into the MLS Cup Playoffs race as they defeated a conference leader for the second consecutive match, after defeating Houston Dynamo last weekend in putting an end to a 10-game winless streak.
It took the Rapids just 10 minutes to take the lead. Terry Cooke put in a cross from the right, Colin Clark headed it back across goal and Conor Casey got on the end of it. His shot was almost stuffed by goalkeeper Matt Reis, but Kirovski came sliding in to bury the rebound into the back of the net.
Colorado kept the pressure on early, backing New England up into their own end and creating early threats. The Revolution were unable to penetrate and possess the ball in the Rapids third of the field, and didn't get off their first shot until the half was nearly complete.
The Rapids suffered a blow shortly after the goal when defender Dan Gargan suffered an apparent knee injury in the 23rd minute. Gargan was immediately replaced by Tony Sanneh, as the long-time MLS veteran was making his Rapids debut, and Gargan taken off the field on a stretcher.
Clark was very active on the left side for the Rapids and played a part in the second goal. First rounding Andy Dorman outside the area, he cut into the box and tried to get past Jay Heaps, only for the Revolution defender to throw out a leg and pull him to the ground. Referee Jorge Gonzalez immediately ruled for the penalty kick and Kirovski blasted it to the upper right corner as Reis guessed incorrectly, diving the other way.
Clark had another good opportunity in first half stoppage time, passing the ball wide to Cooke, who chipped it back in to Clark toward the near post, but Clark couldn't get a good foot on it.
It was a lopsided first half, with Colorado outshooting New England 9-1. Colorado remained in control in the second half, though a more aggressive Revolution side was able to put more pressure on the Rapids backline.
Kirovski came inches from a hat trick in the 63rd minute, when Clark made a run down the left side, then pulled the ball back to the center for Kirovski. He unleashed a shot that bounced past Reis and off the face of the right post then back into the goalmouth, but the Revolution eventually cleared the threat.
Clark kept the pressure on, rounding a series of defenders in the 64th minute, taking the ball into the area between defenders and drawing Reis out of the goal before taking a shot from near the goal line, hitting the side of the net to end a dramatic drive.
The young midfielder stayed dangerous, taking a pass from substitute Cummings in the 72nd minute, after Cummings ran down the ball in the left corner, saving a goal kick and setting up another threat. Clark was tripped as he drove for the goal, setting up a direct kick from the corner of the box, but the Rapids couldn't direct his cross toward goal.
Rapids 'keeper Bouna Coundoul was never really challenged, only bringing a sense of danger when he left the box. The best chance for the Revolution came in the 70th minute when a free kick was swung into the box from the right. Coundoul came flying off his line but didn't make contact with the ball, as Taylor Twellman outjumped him. But Twellman's header bounced just wide of the right post.
Cummings finally scored the Rapids third goal of the game - and his first with Colorado - with Clark once again playing a key role. Clark's long ball over the top set Cummings free, and from the top of the area the native of Jamaica lashed a low shot past Reis.
Two minutes later Clark had another opportunity from the left, all alone as he shot head on against Reis, who batted it away, setting up an inconsequential corner kick. For his efforts on the night, a goal would have been a fair reward, but it wasn't to be.
The win brought Colorado within two points of Columbus for the eighth playoff spot and made for an impressive first two games in their critical three-game homestand.
Owen Perkins is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
