The Colorado Rapids opened their 2006 season without the aggressive edge the coach and his players know they need to be a competitive force in Major League Soccer. They were flat in their season opener, losing 5-2 to Houston in Dynamo's first game ever, and the first half of their home opener against the Columbus Crew was shaping up to be more of the same.
"We were very tentative in the first half, instead of being aggressive," said head coach Fernando Clavijo. "We made it clear in the second half it was not good enough. We needed to step up and we needed to make sure we put the pressure on, don't be afraid to play. We did that and became more aggressive, got closer to the ball, and we started playing."
It had been a lopsided first half, with the Crew taking an early lead on a Chad Marshall goal in the 10th minute, and despite a great goal by the Rapids' Jovan Kirovski to tie the game in the 34th minute, the first half was dominated by the Crew.
"It was kind of difficult to get some rhythm going," said Rapids midfielder Kyle Beckerman, noting that the Crew kept them on the defensive, playing in their own half through much of the first 45 minutes and fighting for the ball in their own penalty area instead of taking the pressure forward to challenge the Crew.
"We'd get some stuff going, lose it, now they're coming, now we have to defend, and we're winning it on our 18 instead of winning it in their half and being able to one pass, two pass, now shot on goal," he said. "It was tough. It wasn't really our plan. It's something we'll work on, coming in knowing what teams are going to do to us."
But even more important than knowing how the opposing teams are going to attack them, the Rapids showed how dominating they can be when they get on the aggressive.
The need for continued pressure was emphasized by Terry Cooke, who earned three assists on the night, in addition to getting six shots off, three on goal.
"You don't need to be the better team, it's all about taking chances," Cooke explained. "You could have one chance in 90 minutes and win it 1-nil."
As far as Cooke is concerned, the chances have been there in both games for the Rapids, but at home in Colorado they did a better job of converting the opportunities they fought for.
"Last week was disappointing, because [Houston] capitalized on mistakes, we gave the ball away in sloppy positions. Every time they crossed the ball they were going to score last week," Cooke said. "This week we were tighter after they scored in the first five or 10 minutes. We picked our heads up and seemed to get stronger as the game went on. Especially the second half. That's the difference this week, we finished our chances."
The Rapids got back in the game with Kirovski's tying goal, and within the first five minutes of the second half, when Beckerman fired a cannon blast off the head of the Crew's Brandon Moss and into the goal, the momentum had shifted to the Rapids for good.
It was Beckerman's second goal in two games, matching his previous three-year total with the Rapids, when he scored a goal a season the last two seasons.
"It's about time," said Beckerman of his sudden explosion. "I wish it would have happened earlier. I've been taking shots for however long I've been here. I'm just finding the finishing touch."
When asked what had come over the young midfielder, Clavijo didn't hesitate with his answer: "Coaching," he said, laughing at his immodesty.
"I think he's comfortable in that position," Clavijo explained, turning serious. "His confidence is up. He's very comfortable in looking at things as, 'this is my position to lose.' Somebody who works as hard as he does deserves to have what is happening right now for him."
Some of the difference in Beckerman can be attributed to his ability to step up in the absence of Clint Mathis, who is out with a pinched calf muscle suffered in the first game. But Clavijo had worked with Beckerman about his approach to his shooting, and the go-ahead goal in the second half was clear evidence that Clavijo's coaching was paying off.
"His approach to the ball wasn't good," Clavijo said of an element he tried to correct in Beckerman. "He was too far away from the ball every time he would strike it. We told him, 'your steps when you get to the ball, they need to be better.' The little things that I mentioned to him are making him a better shooter, which is outstanding. I'm very pleased for him."
Fabrice Noel completed the Rapids' scoring run with a header off an assist from Cooke 22 minutes into the second half, making for a total of three goals in the span of 33 minutes. The Rapids had clearly found their rhythm, and are looking to maintain the momentum as their season continues at home next week against FC Dallas.
"We moved the ball better," Cooke said of the improved play as the game went on. "Lads seemed more calm on the ball. People were moving off the ball for each other. Being unselfish. That's what we've got to do. People have to run off the ball, not because they want to get it. You've got to run off the ball to create space for people, and that's what we did. Especially in the second half. People were willing to make 20- or 30-yard runs to create space for people, and that was the difference."
Cooke clearly was a difference maker himself, pushing the offense down the field and creating opportunities with passes in front of the goal, beating the defenders and leading his teammates.
"It's a simple game, soccer, and I try not to complicate it," Cooke said, happy his team could convert three crosses into goals. "If the ball beats the first man, then I've done my job and people have to do their job and get on the end of it. Fair credit to the lads up front today, they did well getting on the end of things. That was the big difference. We showed commitment getting on the end of things. It was a big difference from last week."
Owen Perkins is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
