SB Nation Denver - No Mile High Magic Today; The Rapids Scrape Out A 1-1 Draw With KC. https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48907/denver-fave.png2010-07-17T21:06:48-06:00http://denver.sbnation.com/rss/stream/13383222010-07-17T21:06:48-06:002010-07-17T21:06:48-06:00That's Game, Rapids Escape With A 1-1 Draw
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<p>Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: the Rapids made one boneheaded move on defense that ended up in a goal for the opposition, while at the same time playing torrid offense just about all game long. Sounds like the formula for the past couple of games, huh? The Rapids were lucky to get a goal in the 75th minute to equalize, and will have to settle for a 1-1 draw at home, a game that they really should have won.</p>
<p>The game started pathetically for the Rapids offensively, as they only got three shots toward the goal in the first half, none of them actually hitting the goalkeeper or even the post. Pablo Mastroeni took a decent ball from Colin Clark and hit the side netting, the only shot they had that was even close for the first 60-ish minutes of play. Davy Arnaud got a breakaway as the entire Rapids defense set up behind him and he beat the offsides trap to get a quick shot past Matt Pickens for the first and only KC goal of the game.</p>
<p>Jamie Smith came in for Mehdi Ballouchy to start the second half and was mostly invisible throughout the rest of the game, getting only one real chance at goal that deflected off his foot toward Conor Casey, who was too far in front of the ball to play it in the box. In the 75th minute, the Rapids finally got a break as Casey got a good enough look on the ball to keep it on his foot for a good chunk of time and blast it into the net for the only Rapids goal.</p>
<p>In the 88th minute Casey blew one of the easiest chances he’ll ever have in his life, beating the goalkeeper and everyone on the defense but hitting the post while he shot left-footed. The Rapids should have won this game, but in the same fashion they’ve been dropping games all year, the finishing just wasn’t there.</p>
<p>Kansas City wound up outshooting the Rapids in this game by a boatload, as they hit 12 shots including several that Matt Pickens had to make fantastic saves on. The Rapids should be happy to get out with a draw, but they cannot settle for these sorts of games any longer.</p>
<p>Kansas City still hasn't won in Denver since 2004.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2010/7/17/1575113/thats-game-rapids-escape-with-a-1UZ2010-07-17T20:39:05-06:002010-07-17T20:39:05-06:00Goal! Colorado 1 KC 1
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<p>Conor Casey made a spectacular individual effort in the box and netted his 7th goal of the season in the 75th minute, we have a tie game!</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2010/7/17/1575088/goal-colorado-1-kc-1UZ2010-07-17T20:27:09-06:002010-07-17T20:27:09-06:00Lopez In For Clark
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<p>Colin Clark has had a horrible day all around, now he’s been subbed out for Claudio Lopez. If anyone can spark the Rapids offense, its Claudio. He’s got just under 30 minutes to do so.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2010/7/17/1575076/lopez-in-for-clarkUZ2010-07-17T20:10:43-06:002010-07-17T20:10:43-06:00Smith In For Ballouchy
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<p>Jamie Smith is in the game at midfield now, as Gary Smith is obviously trying to spark something, anything.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2010/7/17/1575061/smith-in-for-ballouchyUZ2010-07-17T19:56:34-06:002010-07-17T19:56:34-06:00Halftime: Kansas City 1, Colorado 0
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<p>In a familiar scene to the last game against Toronto, the Rapids have had absolutely zero offensive chemistry in the first half and gave up a goal on a boneheaded defensive error.</p>
<p>The Rapids only wound up with a small handful of shots toward goal throughout the half, and none of their shots were actually on goal. The best chance came from captain Pablo Mastroeni, as he put one into the side netting off a pass in the box from Colin Clark. Clark was more of a liability than a help throughout the first half besides that one play, getting his first start in ages at Left wing.</p>
<p>KC’s lone goal came from a breakaway shot by Davy Arnaud in the 20th minute that Matt Pickens couldn’t get a hand on as he tried to make a sliding save. Danny Earls subbed on for Scott Palgua in the 44th minute.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2010/7/17/1575050/halftime-kansas-city-1-colorado-0UZ2010-07-17T19:28:18-06:002010-07-17T19:28:18-06:00Goal: 1-0 KC
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<p>A minor defensive mistake by the Rapids in the 20th minute along with a great ball in for KC left Davy Arnaud all alone for a breakaway and a clear shot on goal, he got his second of the season with no trouble at all.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2010/7/17/1575028/goal-1-0-kcUZ2010-07-17T14:28:09-06:002010-07-17T14:28:09-06:00Rapids Take On The Kansas City Wizards At Home
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<p>Colorado's unbeaten streak of six games was snapped on July 10th when the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/teams/COR">Rapids</a> lost their fourth straight game in Canada against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/teams/TOR">Toronto FC</a>. They'll try and start a new one tonight at 7 p.m. MT against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/teams/KAN">Kansas City Wizards</a> at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.</p>
<p>The two teams have met twice so far this year, with the two games coming only three days apart. The third game of the season for the Rapids was a 1-0 defeat at Kansas City on April 10th while the Rapids were able to defeat the Wiz 2-1 off a pair of goals from <span>Wells Thompson</span> in a qualifying match for the US Open Cup on April 13th, although that match wound up meaning nothing as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/teams/redbulls">Red Bulls</a> kicked the Rapids out of the cup with a 3-0 win the next month.</p>
<p>Kansas City is not having a season to remember, firmly entrenched into the bottom half of the East and currently sitting in fifth place with a 4-8-3 record. They have the fourth worst goal differential in the league with a minus-seven. If the Rapids were planning on going on an offensive tear to help themselves out, the Wizards would be a nice target for it. If Wells Thompson can keep the form he had against them in Open Cup play going he might be due for his first goal of the MLS regular season as well.</p>
<p>Currently stuck in a three-way tie for third place in the West with San Jose and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/teams/DAL">FC Dallas</a>, a positive result here is pretty much required for the Rapids if they want to keep their status as contenders in 2010, especially considering two of their next three games are against the teams they're currently tied with. A win against the Wizards and another next week against a floundering Seattle team would go a long way toward putting the Rapids back into the championship conversation.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2010/7/17/2317986/rapids-take-on-the-kansas-city-wizards-at-homeUZ