The Colorado Rapids ended their unbeaten run of six games and maintained their poor return from BMO Field with a disappointing 1-0 loss to Toronto in the early afternoon Canadian heat.
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It is the fourth straight defeat for Colorado in Toronto. The Rapids have now lost 1-0 in all four of their defeats this season.
Last weekend’s draw against the New York Red Bulls was frustrating for Rapids head coach Gary Smith because the team didn’t put the game away after taking the lead. This week’s game was frustrating for different reasons. The lack of finishing and the ease with which Toronto scored the game’s decisive goal did not please Smith.
“That was a routine situation,” Smith told MLSsoccer.com after the match. “Defenders are there to defend. I felt in that 10- to 15-minute period in the second half, we were second best. One or two of our guys had a bit of a panic.”
On the 61st-minute goal, Fuad Ibrahim took advantage of an error from Danny Earls. The Colorado left back was tentative in attacking the cross from the left side and Ibrahim mopped up the loose ball. Earls was replaced by Smith immediately afterwards for Scott Palguta.
On the lack of finishing, Smith said the players getting into goalscoring positions hadn’t created enough challenges for the opposition.
“There is a lack of urgency in front of goal, no real clinical edge,” he said. “The front two got into two or three nice positions but, in general, all the guys have failed to hit the target or make the goalkeeper work. It’s a bit of a problem to be honest.”
Claudio Lopez was given some rare game time, coming on for the last quarter of an hour or so to inject some creativity into the Rapids’ attack. The Argentine veteran of two World Cups had only played 32 minutes of MLS league action prior to Saturday. He was able to provide a number of dangerous balls as well as take an unlikely shot from distance which Toronto goalkeeper Stefan Frei did very well to tip over.
But Lopez’s invention and the endeavor of the rest of the team wasn’t enough for Colorado on the day.
The Rapids return home to lick their wounds, knowing that they are still in a good position in the West ahead of next weekend’s game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park against Kansas City.
