Winning in Columbus is a difficult challenge, even at the best of times. But when the visiting team makes a defensive error, fails to defend a set piece and has a dubious penalty kick called against them, things become even tougher.
The Colorado Rapids certainly had the best of the first 45 minutes and went into the halftime break fully deserving at least the 1-1 tie they had. Pablo Mastroeni, following a lovely give-and-go with Mehdi Ballouchy, buried one into the net on the stroke of halftime to equalize after Guillermo Barros Schelotto had scored from the penalty spot in the sixth minute.
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But a long ball early in the second half from William Hesmer in the Columbus goal was poorly headed by Marvell Wynne and landed fortuitously into the path of Jason Garey, who buried it last Matt Pickens. The set piece in the 80th minute led to substitute Steven Lenhart sealing the game for the Crew, who handed the Rapids their first multi-goal loss of the season.
“I thought we played ever so well in the first half and deserved the goal,” Rapids head coach Gary Smith, told MLSsoccer.com after the game. “The lads showed terrific character to get back into the game and we were feeling very buoyant at halftime. But the second goal was an individual error and we got a bit stretched on the third goal.”
[inline_node:316639]Smith spoke earlier in the week about how the Crew’s consistency. They’ve won six games since falling on the road to the Rapids on June 5, while Colorado have won just once in the same time frame.
Unlike the Crew, the Rapid still have a long way to go to reach the postseason for the first time in three years. They’re currently in sixth in the Western Conference with 28 points, but do have two games in hand on Seattle, who sit at 29.
Smith said in order to reach the postseason, the Rapids will need to cut down on the kinds of mistakes that cost them at Crew Stadium on Saturday.
“That’s easier said than done but, if you cut out the mistakes, you are in the game,” Smith said.
The Rapids will return home to ponder the defensive mistakes made Saturday.
“There is nothing wrong with our general play, but we had some moments in front of goal we need to work on this week and we were very disappointed with some of the moments in front of our own goal,” he said.
The Rapids return to action at home against Houston on Aug. 28.
