A Clint Mathis goal a minute into stoppage time gave the Colorado Rapids a 1-0 victory against the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday night at Invesco Field at Mile High.
The Mathis goal, set by Nicolas Hernandez and Thiago Martins, gave the Rapids victories in back-to-back games for the first time this season. It was also a disappointing loss for the Wizards, who saw their losing streak extended to five games.
The Rapids created the game's first opportunity in the sixth minute when Dedi Ben Dayan launched a cross from the left flank for Terry Cooke, who hit a powerful header on the run straight on target. Wizards 'keeper Bo Oshoniyi was able to just get a hand to and tip over the crossbar.
But while the Rapids saw their attack smothered by a well-organized Kansas City defense, the visitors started to become more dangerous, forcing Colorado 'keeper Joe Cannon to keep his team in the game.
In the 22nd minute Cannon was called upon to stop a long-range effort from Josh Wolff, then some two minutes later Lance Watson raced into the goal area and fired, Cannon again making a quality save.
Watson continued to be dangerous. He tried to get past Colrado defender Hunter Freeman, whose blocked his shot, but sent a diagonal pass for Eddie Johnson, whose shot just went wide of the left post.
Then in the 43rd minute Watson hit a wicked drive that rattled the crossbar, and Cannon and his teammates were again saved as both teams went into the locker rooms without a goal.
Barely two minutes after the restart, the Rapids again came close. Again it was Ben Dayan and Cooke, this time Ben Dayan running onto a great cross from Cooke from the right flank. The Israeli got up to get his head onto the service and only a great leap from Oshoniyi saved it, as he pushed the ball onto the bar. It fell into the goalmouth, but Kyle Beckerman just couldn't reach the rebound.
Then two minutes later Beckerman again came close, getting onto the end of a Hernandez pass in the area but putting it well wide.
The Wizards had another good chance through Watson, who was facing Cannon alone but his touch let him down and his shot on the run wasn't well hit and went wide.
In the 67th minute Beckerman again caused the Wizards fits. From a cross from Cooke he came it and sent the ball goalward, only for it to come back off the base of Oshoniyi's left-hand post.
Just when it seemed as if the game was drift into a draw, Hernandez knocked the ball into space for Martins. He got in behind the Kansas City backline, cut back to slip away from his defender, lifted his head and sent a rolling pass through the six-yard box where Mathis came in at the far side to knock it into the goal and provide the game-winner.
Yuri Vasquez is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
