By JOSE M. ROMERO
Chance after chance, run after run, the Colorado Rapids thwarted Real España of Honduras Tuesday night in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
The Rapids clung to a 1-0 lead for almost 42 minutes, beneficiaries of a perfectly-placed shot by Jeff Larentowicz just before halftime. But they couldn't hang on for what would have been a big win far from home in CONCACAF Champions League group play, instead surviving with a single point from a 1-1 draw.
Julio "Palomo" Rodriguez took advantage of a bad clearance attempt from the Rapids' Kosuke Kimura, a header that went straight back into the box for Rodriguez to get airborne and shoot the ball into the net in the 87th minute.
It was a fair result, one could surmise, given the numerous scoring chances for the home side and the scant few for the visitors from the U.S.
But Real España had to be frustrated with having just one goal to show for its efforts, with two shots clanging off the cross bar and a couple of key saves by Colorado's Steward Ceus.
The Rapids played without more than half of its regular lineup, and some of the inexperience showed in the backline against an attacking opponent. In the 27th minute, Ceus came out of the net to upend a Real player with no penalty called. Replays showed Ceus got more leg than ball; the Rapids evaded misfortune for the time being.
In the 30th minute, Allan Lalín soft-footed what should have been a goal that Ceus saved easily. Minutes later. Ceus blocked a much more forceful attempt from Lalín.
Alfredo Mejia hit the cross bar in the 43rd minute, then the Rapids struck with the final possession before halftime. Larentowicz used the inside of his right foot to go far post and find the goal.
Danny Earls, playing defender, cleared another too-soft shot off the line, this one by Rodriguez, in the 62nd minute. But as the match wore on in 89 percent humidity and temperatures in the 80s, Real España was the more energetic team.
That energy, particularly from Rodriguez, paid off with his late goal.
The Rapids lead their group, Group B in CCL, with four points at present. Real managed its first point in the competition.
Here are highlights from the match:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuRWl0j6BbY]
In a more immediately relevant context, what did this “proper” CCL play get Dallas recently? The first win ever for a team in Mexico — great! So 3 points to start off the group stage.
But then they came out flat at home against rival Seattle and found themselves on the wrong end of a 6-pointer and a place farther back in the league standings, too. And with a game in Colorado still left, to boot.
Was that worth it? Guess it depends on your perspective and your goals, but if Dallas is still seriously focused on an MLS Cup win, their strategy seems highly debatable.
Seattle OTOH got the best of both worlds: 3 pts without a stylistically or otherwise impressive performance. Colorado got what is a standard goal — 1 pt from a draw on the road — while resting a ton of guys. If they don’t drop off on their recent league form, I think that’s arguably a better deal than DFC’s win in Mexico and loss to the Sounders.
Proper football? That’s garbage. We won the cup last year. Period. We play with a rough style, but don’t demean that saying that it’s not “proper.” Such a snob attitude. Look where “proper” play got Dallas. (It got them 2nd place to us). Oh yeah: It’s SOCCER.
The Nyassi sub may have cost them the game. He blew two break-aways with horrendous ten yard touches. Then he nearly wrestles down an attacker in the box who is running away from goal. Worst ten minutes of soccer since Findley or Bornstein. If he does nothing at all but stand perfectly still on the sideline, it would have been better.
“Replays showed Ceus got more leg than ball; the Rapids evaded misfortune for the time being.”
Look at those replays again. Pretty obvious Ceus didn’t get ball or leg, not that you could tell from the dive the player took.
You do realize Seattle played only a handful of starters as well, right?
+ ∞
true
proves that Seattle fans are small minded, annoying little sound boxes that continue to repeat the same slogans all season long..
what the rest of us hear is that you really don’t know much about the game.
Well said, RB!
Sorry Rory, I have to disagree. Yes, Ceus looks very physically imposing, but you definitely could see his lack of minutes. Several times he made poor decisions to go after a ball mid-air, and despite his physical attributes, completely whiffed. I’m not crucifying the guy, I just think that his inexperience showed. Hopefully he can use this tournament to get some reps and improve.
“I watched the match last night and IMHO Rapids are NOT a deep squad…”
In that case, you may want to try watching the 2011 MLS season.
I watched the match last night and IMHO Rapids are NOT a deep squad. Nani is a perfect example. One moment of brilliance followed by several of poor choices…sublime skill and tactical naivete. These young guys will get better but it will take time.
Per match Real Espana must feel hard done. Rapids stole a point on the road.
Very true, it was disappointing to watch. Colorado could have made better adjustments early and tried to go more attacking. You can only defend for so long till you concede a goal.
classic!
You know, for a goalkeeper that has not started a game and I think only had a couple minutes in goal, Ceus looked like an absolute beast back there… I can think of several teams in the league that would do go to have him as a starter.
I don’t know that any other team’s reserves would have been able to take a lead in that game, not hold off for a tie… maybe Salt Lake if the youngsters got going.
Again with the thug myth? The Rapids are one of the most fouled, least fouling teams in the league. Mullan had one really bad tackle and Casey is the Hines Ward of MLS, but I don’t remember anyone saying LA was a bunch of thugs when they had that hitman in central midfield last season. Not to mention I’ve seen Beckham take a worse shot at a Chivas player on the sideline a couple years ago.
In Amer’ca, we don’t have kings. We send letters to kings telling them how things are gonna be.
I think you must mean, “After seeing the way Dallas have played proper football our CL, i have to say watching Seattle and Colorado play has been extremely unpleasant…”
At any rate, that would be rather more logical than what you said, as Seattle also scored a single first half goal and played sloppily and back on their heels and gave up a number of chances that they are lucky not to have seen lead to a change in the result.
Of course, I realize that to correct the statement that way, one would have to reverse both the “everything Seattle does is wonderful” and the “everything Colorado does is terrible” dogma that prevails these days…
That will change tonight unless TFC and Dallas play to an unlikely draw.
Go USA!
The Rapids ARE a deep squad. There’s ample proof of that in their standing in league play this season, despite repeated injuries. But even good depth has its limits. I follow the team and yet had never seen Ceus play, had only seen Holody play in the first CCL match last week, had only seen Earls play in 1 league match… Marshall & Smith didn’t play at all. Wynne, Mastroeni & Pickett didn’t make the trip. Amarikwa didn’t start…
Of course the coaching decisions along these lines are subject to criticism (perhaps keeping in mind that the team is in the middle of a horrendous run and still coping with those injuries), but the team certainly has depth. It just doesn’t go on indefinitely.
Not only that but the Sounders didn’t play very attractive football last night either even though they got the win with some reserve players.
Lets face it, MLS is in the home stretch and everyone is jockeying for playoff position. Every coachs plan is to win at home with a strong side, play reserve sides when they travel away and any result they get on the road is considered a bonus. So far everything is going to plan however if teams start dropping points at home they will be forced out of their shell on the road and things could get dicey.
“The Rapids clung to a 1-0 lead for almost 87 minutes, beneficiaries of a perfectly-placed shot by Jeff Larentowicz just before halftime.”
87 – 45 = 42
Real Espana get their “Real” designation from the King of Spain. RSL did not have the “Real” bestowed upon them. Kthxbye
Except at the forward position, Colorado is NOT a deep squad. As disappointing as it was for RE to tie it up in the final minutes, a tie in a very hot, humid Honduras against RE’s best team using mostly back-ups is actually an amazing result. Btw, FCD played decent soccer against a Mexican youth squad, and no MLS team has played well throughout an entire away match in the CCL yet. Usually MLS teams get completely outplayed in second halves. Well done to Colorado and all of MLS so far!
+1 The eurosnobs are too busy writing jokes about sporting kansas city and RSL at the moment. Trolling takes work haha
to be fair, they were playing players that ive never even heard of before like Ceus and Holody
See above: “COL only played 4 starters”
Where are all the Eurosnobs complaining about a Honduran team called “Real España”?
Not Royal, not Spain… at least RSL are only a few miles from SLC!
After seeing the way Seattle and Dallas have played proper football our CL, i have to say watching Colorado play has been extremely unpleasant and i hope they crash out of any competition.
RE was lucky COL only played 4 starters
If the highlights were an accurate portrayal of the game then they were very lucky. Two balls of the crossbar and one saved off the line.
From the highlights looked like Colorado was the luckiest team ever. Didn’t see the whole match.
MLS teams are still undefeated. Real España was attacking throughout the match. I thought the Rapids sat back way too much. They didn’t even try to hold the ball and didn’t create any scoring chances, besides the goal. If it weren’t for Real España’s lack of finishing or that cross bar that saved Colorado a few times, it would have been a win for the home team. I think they are happy to leave there with a point.
Always so insightful?
Screwed up MLS’ perfect record…thanks thugs