Commerce City, Colo. - The Colorado Rapids played the role of the chupacabara today handing Chivas USA their first home loss this season, 2-1. In the process the Rapids stayed in contention for the MLS Playoffs with just one game remaining in the regular season.
Bouna Coundoul made the first save of the game in the first minute when he dove to his left and blocked a Maykel Galindo shot.
Terry Cooke took the first shot of the game for the Rapids in the third minute of action. The Englishman's left-footed effort from 25 yards from goal went wide right of Brad Guzan's net.
The Rapids were unable to convert on a counterattack in the 14th minute. Terry Cooke sprinted to a clearance and played the ball up to Jose Cancela who played Colin Clark behind the defense. Guzan came out to force Clark too wide to shoot. The Fort Collins native played the ball across the goal to Cooke but his shot was deflected out for a corner kick.
Kosuke Kimura deflected a Jonathan Bornstein shot in the 25th minute out for a goal kick with the US international bearing down on goal.
A Cancela free kick in the 33rd minute was headed into the net until a defender stuck his foot in the way and deflected it over the goal. The restart was won when Kimura was taken out by Claudio Suarez just outside the penalty area.
Fort Lewis University product John Cunliffe had an opportunity for Chivas USA in the 38th minute but Coundoul came out to parry the shot away.
The Rapids were reduced to ten men for the second game in a row when Brandon Prideaux was issued the first red card of his MLS career in the 46th minute when he took down Galindo as the last defender.
Suarez had an excellent opportunity to put Colorado down when the ball fell to his feet off of a 54th minute corner kick. Coundoul made the save as he dove to his right and smothered the ball.
Ugo Ihemelu picked a great time to score his first career goal. After flicking a Cancela free kick to Conor Casey on the back post he banged home the rebound off of Casey's shot in the 64th minute.
Coundoul came up with one of his best saves of the season in the 67th minute when he made a diving, fingertip stop on a Bornstein header.
Chivas USA tied the game in the 78th minute when Sacha Kljestan lifted a ball to Orlando Perez who slid his shot under Coundoul.
The Rapids retook the lead and kept themselves alive in the playoff chase in the game's final minute before extra time. Casey fought a defender down the touchline until he finally broke away. The Denver South Grad then took the ball to the end line and played a cross to Omar Cummings who tapped in his second goal of the year.
The Rapids will close out the regular season on Saturday when they take on Real Salt Lake in a 7 p.m. kickoff at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. It is Fan Appreciation Night and the winner of the Rocky Mountain Cup will be decided. Tickets are available on www.coloradorapids.com and by calling (303) 825-GOAL!
Scoring Summary:
COL - Ihemelu (unassisted) 64
CHV - Perez (Kljestan, Lopez) 78
COL - Cummings (Casey) 90
Lineups:
Colorado Rapids - Bouna Condoul, Kosuke Kimura, Ugo Ihemelu, Mike Petke, Brandon Prideaux, Terry Cooke (Omar Cummings 83), Facundo Erpen, Jose Cancela (Tony Sanneh 91+), Colin Clark (Jacob Peterson 83), Conor Casey, Jovan Kirovski
Substitutes not used: Zach Thornton, Daniel Osorno, Nicolas Hernandez, Kosuke Kimura
Chivas USA - Brad Guzan, Alex Zotinca (Rodrigo Lopez 72), Claudio Suarez, Shavar Thomas, Orlando Perez, Sacha Kljestan, Jesse Marsch (Lawson Vaughn 63), Paulo Nagamura, Jonathan Bornstein, John Cunliffe (Laurent Merlin 58), Maykel Galindo
Substitutes not used: Preston Burpo, Jason Hernandez, Erasmo Solorzano, Jorge Flores
Misconduct Summary:
CHV - Suarez (Caution) 32
COL - Prideaux (Ejection) 46
CHV - Thomas (Caution) 56
COL - Clark (Caution) 65
CHV - Bornstein (Caution) 84
CHV - Perez (Caution) 88
Referee: Alex Prus
Referees Assts.: Frank Anderson; Emiliano Monje
Fourth Official: Ramon Hernandez
