Errs, missed chances haunt Rapids
Injury to 'keeper Condoul adds insult to loss
Untidy finishing and an injury to goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul were enough to thwart the Rapids as the Los Angeles Galaxy took a 3-1 decision at the Home Depot Center on Saturday.
With the loss, the Rapids remained in fourth place in the Western Conference. However, with the Chicago Fire's 1-0 win against the Columbus Crew, the Rapids now find themselves tied for ninth place in the MLS overall standings and would be out of the MLS Cup Playoffs if the season ended this weekend.
"We didn't finish the chances we created," Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo said. "In the first half, we had two chances pretty much one-on-one with the goalkeeper and we didn't put them away and we gave them life. They managed to score an early goal in the second half and it changed the momentum completely of the game."
On that play, Coundoul dived in a failed attempt to stop Alan Gordon from scoring in the opening moments of the second half. He didn't but still paid a physical price. Coundoul suffered an abdominal strain and left the match in the 58th minute.
Zach Thornton was called into action but allowed a pair of goals. A late goal from Mehdi Ballouchy was not enough as the Rapids lost for just the second time since July 22.
Rapids forward Herculez Gomez said the early second-half goal was too much to overcome.
"It puts you behind the 8-ball," said Gomez, who played against the Galaxy in Carson for the first time since joining the Rapids. "Now you're on the road in the first minute of the second half in a position you definitely don't want to be in. The last thing you want to do on the road in the first couple minutes of the second half is let them get a goal and get into the game."
Gomez, who came over with Ugo Ihemelu in a trade for Joe Cannon, said he was somewhat emotional but was more upset with how the game turned out.
"A mixed bag of emotions, a little bittersweet but I'm more disappointed in how we let the game get away from us," Gomez said. "I don't want to take anything away from the Galaxy but I felt it was more of what we didn't do than what they did. I felt we gave them the opportunity and credit to them; they capitalized."
Ballouchy missed the Rapids clearest scoring opportunity of the first half. In the 37th minute, he walked into the penalty area alone. With Gomez and Jovan Kirovski to choose from, Ballouchy instead decided to shoot but sent his attempt well over the crossbar.
With the Rapids in a 1-0 hole, Thornton replaced Coundoul and tried to get his side back into the match. Instead, the Galaxy struck soon after the veteran entered the game. Peter Vagenas pounced on a loose ball and sent it to Cobi Jones, who fed Buddle near the top of the penalty area. Buddle chipped the ball over Thornton's head for the eventual match-winner.
"It seemed that's what they were looking for the majority of the night was a counterattack," Thornton said. "They got it right. Buddle made a nice play, nice goal."
Thornton allowed another goal in the 70th minute when Kyle Martino buried a cross with a diving header from point-blank range.
Still, Thornton said the circumstances were challenging but could have been overcome.
"It's tough. You're on the bench and you should be ready," Thornton said. "No excuses. It happens sometimes. As a number two, you have to be ready for that."
Clavijo did not place any blame on the veteran 'keeper.
"It's hard to come in the game like that," Clavijo said. "I didn't blame him for any of the goals. There's nothing you can do."
Clavijo said his side would shake off any negative effects from Saturday's loss before the club's next game, a Sept. 16 home fixture against Chivas USA.
"It does not even cross my mind that this team is going to allow this result to affect how we are going to play the next game, absolutely not," Clavijo said.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
