The Colorado Rapids remained winless at their new Dick's Sporting Goods Park home since opening the stadium with a win, seeing the Kansas City Wizards come back to claim a 1-1 draw on Saturday evening.
Jovan Kirovski gave the Rapids the lead in first-half stoppage time on a penalty kick, but the Wizards pulled level with a goal from Davy Arnaud in the second half.
The Rapids played one of their more aggressive games to date, challenging the Wizards repeatedly when Kansas City had possession, and rarely letting them control the ball without fending off pressure.
The best chances from the visitors came through Eddie Johnson, who was looking for space on the wing and setting up opportunities in front of the goal. He had a header directly at Colorado goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul in the 16th minute, and set himself up in front of the goal a couple minutes later, taking on two defenders before his shot was deflected.
Colorado's aggressive play earned a pair of first half yellow cards for defender Mike Petke for a tackle from behind in the 30th minute and Herculez Gomez in the 34th minute, when he taunted Wizards center back Jimmy Conrad by putting his hand in his face after a play.
After an uneven first half, when the breaks seemed to fall against Colorado, the Rapids caught a break in the final minute of the half, when a volley of shots in the goal area resulted in a handball from Kansas City defender Nick Garcia and referee Jorge Gonzalez ruled a penalty kick for the Rapids.
Kirovski took the kick, sending high and to the left, blasting it past a leaping Kevin Hartman into the back of the net for a 1-0 Colorado advantage at the half.
The Wizards evened the game in the 58th minute, when Kerry Zavagnin found Johnson in the right corner and Johnson sent a pass to Arnaud in directly in front of the goal. Arnaud chopped the ball into the right corner of the goal, beating Coundoul.
With the game tied, both teams tried to grab the go-ahead goal, but neither attack showed much fluency. First Kansas City had the edge, implementing their passing game to put Colorado on the run, then the Rapids eventually regained their footing later in the half, but both defenses held firm.
Colorado missed out on a series of opportunities, including a cross from Nicholas Hernandez to a wide-open Gomez in the 67th minute. Gomez tried to hammer the ball on net with force, but sent it wide and high, injuring himself on the play and leaving the game for substitute Jacob Peterson.
The Rapids had already brought Ugo Ihemelu in to the game for Jovan Kirovski, an unusual substitution of a defender for a midfielder, but coming on the heels of the Wizards game-tying goal, it was clear the Rapids were eager for Ihemelu's defensive presence on the field.
Colorado had another threatening attack in the 77th minute, with Kyle Beckerman getting a shot off from a crowded goal area, but Hartman dove to his left in time to snare the shot. That was followed with a direct free kick from Cooke, their last best chance. Cooke lofted the ball over the wall of defenders, but over the goal as well.
The tie kept the Rapids without a win at Dick's Sporting Goods Park since their 2-1 win against D.C. United to open the season. The Rapids have now suffered a loss and three ties since their first win at their new home.
Owen Perkins is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
