Earlier this week, Colorado head coach Gary Smith asked his players to put on a playoff performance against Los Angeles. On Saturday night, he got it.
Even though the Rapids had already made it into the postseason before they took the field against the Galaxy thanks to Kansas City’s loss in New England, there was no let-up from Colorado as they stormed to a 3-1 victory at the Home Depot Center.
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“We have come here and taken the points against what the stats tell us is the best team in the league,” Smith told MLSsoccer.com after the game. “It is great also to keep our away form going.”
There was an interesting change in personnel at the back, with Smith opting for Wells Thompson to play at left back. Although the change was somewhat thrust upon Smith because of an injury to Anthony Wallace in last weekend’s game against Dallas, the coach decided to play the midfielder ahead of more conservative options, such as moving Drew Moor, Danny Earls or Scott Palguta out wide.
Thompson, who had played in that position for his former club, New England, had the small matter of dealing with David Beckham marauding down his flank for 90 minutes.
But, like the rest of the Colorado defense, including an outstanding Matt Pickens, Thompson stood firm.
The Galaxy dominated the first 10 minutes of the match, but managed to go ahead only through a fortuitous shot from Edson Buddle that deflected off of Moor and looped over Pickens.
Besides that goal, the Rapids rear guard successfully repelled everything the Galaxy threw at them – even during a frantic finish in the final five minutes – and responded the way Smith had asked them to.
[inline_node:321102]After pulling level in the 18th minute thanks to their own piece of luck – LA defender Sean Franklin tried to clear Jamie Smith's corner kick but instead bounced the ball off Buddle and into the Galaxy net – the Rapids dominated much of the rest of the match and the Conor Casey–Omar Cummings tag team combined again on two occasions to take their joint tally up to 25 for the season.
There was nothing lucky about Colorado's second goal, however, as it typified the sort of effort Smith had been calling for.
Pablo Mastroeni and Jeff Larentowicz simply would not give up the ball in the midfield and it eventually found its way to Cummings. The Jamaican unleashed a powerful cross and Casey slid one in deftly from close range at the half-hour mark.
As the Rapids took control of the game in the second half, Casey slid in a pass behind the Galaxy defense and onto Cummings, who sealed the win with a well-taken left-footed shot to the far post in the 67th minute.
It was the first time since May 2006 – a total of 69 games – that the Rapids had won a game after first falling behind.
“It was very nice to put that statistic to bed and, all in all, the guys were fantastic,” Smith said. “This was a wonderful display and we showed some really good form.”
In the last three away games against the top three teams in the Western Conference, the Rapids have now taken two draws and a victory. Not a bad introduction to the postseason.
With San Jose losing to Houston earlier, the Rapids now find themselves in the seventh playoff position, which would lead to a postseason contest with Columbus should the standings stay as they are.
The Rapids take on Real Salt Lake next weekend in Colorado for their final regular-season game of the year. With qualification into the postseason now obtained, they'll be feeling good knowing they can focus solely on the Rocky Mountain Cup.
