NEW YORK – The Colorado Rapids came into Yankee Stadium with one of the best records in Major League Soccer, the longest unbeaten streak and certainly the league’s stingiest defense.
They came into Yankee Stadium to take on a New York City FC side that was without several starters to injury and suspension, including the league’s leading scorer in David Villa.
Rapids coach Pablo Mastroeni believed his team came into Yankee Stadium feeling comfortable and that, more than anything, was their undoing in a stunning 5-1 loss Saturday afternoon.
“Our mentality was they’re missing a few key players, we’ve gotten to where we are sleepwalking, we’re going to keep going,” Mastroeni said. “When you hit a wall like that, it’s a complete reset.”
That’s just what Mastroeni is looking for from his side after their league-best 15-match unbeaten streak was snapped in the manner it was.
“You lose a close one in the waning minutes of a game, you’re thinking that nothing needs to be changed and we’re right there,” he said. “You lose like this and it’s a whole reset. It’s a mental reset. It’s a rethink everything.”
Mastroeni said his team, which suffered its first loss sine a 1-0 defeat to Real Salt Lake on April 9, came out nervy and timid in unfamiliar surroundings at Yankee Stadium.
They conceded uncharacteristically early as Frank Lampard slid in to score his sixth goal of the year in the 28th minute and then the game completely turned when Micheal Azira was sent off in the 37th minute for his second bookable offense.
“They didn’t do anything,” Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard said. “We shot ourselves in the foot. It’s a small pitch, it’s easy to get around, easy to defend properly and we didn’t do that as a group today. Once the red card happened, the game is finished.”
Tony Taylor struck three minutes before halftime to double NYCFC’s lead and the hosts scored three more times in the final quarter hour to put the game away.
Yet, down 5-0, the Rapids kept playing and pulled a goal back on Shkelzen Gashi’s deflected free kick two minutes into stoppage time.
It was a bright spot in an otherwise dreary afternoon for the Rapids.
“Listen, it’s not always going to be puppy dogs and ice cream football games,” Mastroeni said. “There’s going to be some bombs thrown in these things. How do we respond when all the chips are against us, when we shoot ourselves in the foot and get red-carded?
"I’m most pleased with the mindset of those guys to not stop fighting and find a way to get a goal. That is the group we’ve been throughout the whole season.”
As difficult as it was to swallow, Howard is hoping the lopsided loss was a “one-off.” The Rapids (10-3-8) are still very much in the race for the Western Conference lead as they return home to meet the Vancouver Whitecaps next Saturday.
“It’s all about making [the playoffs],” forward Kevin Doyle said. “Compared to where we were last year, it’s a massive improvement. Getting beat today, as not nice as it is, they’re a good team with good players, one of the strongest teams in the league. Let’s not make it be 5-1, but it’s a long game with 10 men against a team that is very good at turning the ball around.”
