The New England Revolution found out Thursday night what it's like to play a hungry team. Especially when they didn't bring their effort themselves.
The Revolution had their moments at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, but most of them came in the first 10 minutes. Before either side could develop a rhythm and establish some momentum, New England got their passing game going, looking as if they could out-possess the Rapids and take advantage of a team that had struggled for two months before upsetting Houston last Saturday.
But a 10th-minute goal from Colorado slammed the brakes on Revolution's game, and they never got back into it, getting outshot 9-1 in the first half and registering just a single shot on goal for the entire match in a 3-0 loss to the Rapids.
"We really didn't come to play today," said head coach Steve Nicol. "When you come in at halftime two-nil down, and you are playing away from home, you're climbing a mountain."
New England was unable to make any progress scaling that mountain after the half. On the rare occasion when they felt they'd gained a step or two, Colorado sent them slipping back down the slope three more steps.
Though Revolution tried to adapt, realigning their formation in an attempt to slow down Colorado, they seemed caught off guard by a rejuvenated home side, energized by young players like midfielder Colin Clark and substitute Omar Cummings, who combined for Cummings first MLS goal in the 76th minute.
Nicol wasn't helped by the departure of Pat Noonan midway through the first half after he suffered a groin injury, replaced by Adam Cristman. At halftime, in an attempt to quell the danger on the flanks -- especially from Clark, who was a threat all night long on the left -- Nicol brought on James Riley as a fourth defender in place of midfielder Wells Thompson. But the Rapids were as relentless in New England's defensive third as they were impenetrable in their own.
It's possible the Revolution were caught short by playing on the league's largest pitch in a new stadium a mile above sea level. Colorado has enjoyed no better than a mediocre home-field advantage so far this season, bringing a 3-3-4 record into the match, but the size of the field and altitude of their new soccer stadium has given opponents pause, forcing them to rethink their tactics, for better or worse.
"We came out slow, and the Rapids jumped on us," said midfielder Jeff Larentowicz, who got off one of New England's five shots. "We were not fully prepared mentally to counteract them at home."
Though they've only lost twice in their last eight league games, those two losses have come in their last three games, both by 3-0 scores, with the other loss coming at home against D.C.
"Uncharacteristically, over the last couple games, we have had a couple mental lapses," Larentowicz added. "The Rapids jumped on their opportunities."
While the Rapids had been all but counted out after a 10-game winless streak before back-to-back wins against Houston and New England, the Revolution have perhaps been a bit too relaxed at the other end of the playoff spectrum. With a six-point lead atop the Eastern Conference standings, and another key game against the Kansas City Wizards in just three days' time, Thursday's game could have been something less than a red-letter date on their calendar.
"When things are going well, maybe you think you can just turn up, and every now and then you get a kick on the backside," Nicol said, acknowledging his team's attitude lapse against the Rapids. "Today we didn't turn up ready to win the fight at the start."
Owen Perkins is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
