May 28th, 2016 – The top team in the Western Conference met the top team in the Eastern Conference on Saturday night when the Rapids hosted Philadelphia Union.
Colorado currently occupy first place in the Western Conference, as well as first place in the Supporter’s Shield standings, and sit on an impressive 27 points. The Union, first place in the Eastern Conference sit on 19 points, enough for tie for sixth place in the Supporter’s Shield standings.
Chris Pontius and Mekeil Williams knocked heads early on, injuring the Union winger (Photo Credit: Corbin Elliott)
The match was to be played without several key players for each team. For Colorado they are without Jermaine Jones, on duty with the United States Men’s National Team, Shkelzen Gashi, in Europe playing for Albania in the upcoming Euro’s and Sean St. Ledger, Marco Pappa and Dominique Badji, all three players currently out with injuries. Kevin Doyle was available for the match but will leave Colorado after the match as Doyle is trying to cement a spot with the Irish National Team ahead of this Summer’s European Championships. Dillon Powers and Dillon Serna were in the starting lineup in place of Jones and Gashi.
For Philadelphia, the Union still retain keeper Andre Blake who will report to Jamaica for international duty after the match against the Rapids. Maurice Edu was also not available due to injury.
Philadelphia came into the game on short rest following a midweek match against Orlando City that finished 2-2. The Union are unbeaten in their last six matches, winning two and drawing four.
Colorado was 6-0-0 at home coming into the match against the Union.
Colorado had the better of the early possession and the Rapid passing was much crisper than it has been in recent matches. The Union were forced into their own half for the majority of the opening 15 minutes.
Chris Pontius and Mikiel Williams had a clash of heads early on and Pontius suffered a decent cut on his head. The player had to leave the field of play to have his head wrapped before continuing.
In the 33rd minute the Rapids had a throw in near the corner in the Union half. Defender Marc Burch threw the ball into the box and after several deflections the ball ended up at the feet of Luis Solignac. Solignac beat his defender, cutting inside at the top of the six-yard-box but sent his shot over the bar. The miss was a bad one as the Argentine should have done much better. Up to that point it was the best chance of the match.
The first half ended 0-0 with neither side being more dominant or impressive the other.
With each team was playing in a similar formation and building from the back, there were large portions of the first half where the teams seemed to cancel each other out. Neither side seemed willing to throw too many men forward in search of a goal, that would have to change in the second half.
Dillon Serna searches for an opening. (Photo Credit: Corbin Elliott)
If the first half was short on excitement the second half started out even more flat. Without Jones, Gashi and Pappa in the lineup Colorado had no bite and neither side seemed willing to risk letting a goal in by committing to the attack.
To that point, in the 61st minute Pablo Mastroeni used his first substitution bringing on defender Marlon Hairston in place of midfielder Dillon Serna . The move was a cautious one and it seemed that Colorado was happy to take a point from the match and head into the international break without a loss.
Each side had a few half chances through the early to mid stage of the second half, but nothing more than a half chance. At least until the 70th minute.
Marlon Hairston was able to latch onto a deflection in the box, dodge a defender and square the ball to Dillon Powers. Powers should have buried the opportunity but his shot was brilliantly saved by Union keeper Blake, off the crossbar.
After that chance the game finally opened up a bit. Each side began finding space to run at the opposing defense, but none of those runs materialized into a goal.
In the 80th minute Colorado thought they had finally cracked the match open. Marlon Hairston broke a defenders ankles and crossed the ball to Powers. Powers cut in and shot at goal but his shot deflected to Luis Solignac, who gathered the ball turned and fired off the crossbar. After careening off the crossbar the ball landed at Dillon Powers feet. Powers sent in a cross to the far post of Blake’s goal where Solignac got on the end of the cross and hammered the ball into the roof of the goal. Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, all 18,015 in attendance erupted, the fireworks even went off before groans began to replace the cheers as people realized the linesman’s flag was raised indicating offsides against the Rapids. No goal.
Colorado celebrates after scoring the opening goal (Photo Credit: Corbin Elliott)
In the 88th minute Colorado finally found the breakthrough. Marlon Hairston sent in a cross from the right wing to the middle of the box and Sam Cronin, unmarked, was able to get his head on the ball directing it past Blake into the bottom left corner of the Union goal.
The lead didn’t last for more than a few minutes as Philadelphia nabbed a goal back in stoppage time.
A ball into the box was squared across goal and Captain Brain Carroll beat Rapids keeper Zac MacMath to the near post to score the equalizer.
The goal came just five minutes after the Rapid goal and deep into stoppage time.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Carroll equalizes past Zac MacMath in the 92nd minute. (Photo Credit: Corbin Elliott)
The result means that Colorado goes into the international break on 28 points and remains in first place in both the Western Conference as well as the Supporter’s Shield standings after FC Dallas drew against San Jose Earthquakes.
Colorado will feel disappointed with the result as they controlled the majority of the match and rattled the crossbar twice before scoring.
For Philadelphia the point means they go into the break on 20 points, one point ahead of New York Red Bulls and Montreal Impact who each sit on 19 points.
Colorado Rapids
Philadelphia Union
