last a crushing home loss to Real Salt Lake at midweek -- the Rapids also came in needing a victory. The Galaxy hadn't lost in seven games and just twice since Frank Yallop took over as head coach in early June.
But after Joe Cannon saved from Quavas Kirk from a tight angle, the Rapids took the lead just before the break. Intercepting a pass in the Galaxy defensive third, Thiago Martins sent Kyle Beckerman racing into the area, and he cut a rolling pass across the face of goal where Nicolas Hernandez came racing on to pound it into the open net (41).
The Galaxy nearly found the equalizer with almost the last kick of the game, but Cannon got down to hold a Landon Donovan shot from close range from a goalmouth scramble. The loss left the defending MLS Cup champion seven points out of the last playoff spot in the West, with 10 games remaining.
Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo made three changes to the team that lost 4-1 to Real Salt Lake three days earlier. Mike Petke and Eric Denton were both suspended, as Pablo Mastroeni and Dan Gargan came into the team in the back four. Terry Cooke was injured, as Thiago Martins returned to the team in attack.
Here's Clavijo's team (4-4-1-1): Joe Cannon - Hunter Freeman, Aitor Karanka, Pablo Mastroeni, Dan Gargan - Jacob Peterson, Kyle Beckerman, Daniel Wasson, Nicolas Hernandez - Jovan Kirovski (Luchi Gonzalez 89) - Thiago Martins (Fabrice Noel 75). [Substitutes Not Used: Colin Clark, Jordan Harvey, Matt Jordan, Stephen Keel, Clint Mathis]
"Like I told the team, regardless of who we have out due to cards or injury, we have to show our true character," Clavijo said. "We have to show that we can play. This is our home field and we need to play hard from the beginning."
TEAM NEWS
When they score the first goal, the Rapids are now 7-0-1, best in MLS. "Los Angeles is a physical team and we knew that they played very physically against Houston their last game. We had to match their physical play and today we did that. We missed a lot of chances but we scored and protected the result," said Clavijo. "It was outstanding. I was extremely proud of my team. The younger players had an opportunity to play and prove to me that they can play at that level."
After allowing four goals in back-to-back losses to FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake, the Rapids set out their stall to defend well from the start. The result was a sixth shutout of the season.
"To be honest this one was a team shutout. The goalie didn't have to do too much tonight. It just feels good because, after giving up eight goals in the last two games, everyone really wanted to get the shutout today," said goalkeeper Joe Cannon. "This was a team win. We got the goal and that was all we needed. We were hoping to get one or two more but it didn't work out for us."
The victory also kept alive the Galaxy's run of poor form in Denver. Their last league victory in Colorado came July 13, 2002 - though of course they defeated the Rapids in the Western Conference Championship last year.
"Hey, we got the three points. Los Angeles only has [10] games left and they are eight points behind us," Cannon said. "The pressure is on them now. Hopefully we can get one or two results on the road and secure a playoff berth."
Hernandez now leads the Rapids with six goals this season, playing both as an out-and-out striker, or wide in the midfield as he did against the Galaxy - even more important now with the departure of Dedi Ben Dayan.
"The goal was a result of our work effort. We were pressuring them and we were causing them to make mistakes. We pressured them and the ball popped out and Thiago got it and hit me with a nice pass. I took one touch and passed it across and Niko was there. It was as simple as that," Beckerman said.
Beckerman now has two assists to go with his career-best four goals. His career high for assists is five, with the Rapids in 2003. "(My offensive explosion) was bound to come. In the past it just didn't but this year it is. Maybe it's an extra year under my belt," he said. "Fernando has let me loosen up a little bit so things are going good and I'm taking advantage of it."
