Colorado Gets Another Easy Three Points From Canada

The Rapids returned to league play like they had never taken a break, while Vancouver looked like they had never started playing.  Early dominance from Colorado led to a Dillon Powers goal midway through the half and a stupid PK given up by Vancouver near the end of the first finished off any hope the had.  The second half was a dull affair where the Whitecaps never looked like they were going to get back into the game.

My strategic consideration was how quickly each team would knock the rust of the break off.  The Rapids didn't have any on them when they started the game!

• Jose Mari didn't start because he turned an ankle in training on Friday.  Today it was announced he could miss up to four weeks.  Ouch.
• Jared Watts did well in his stead, though he didn't have much to do since Vancouver was lifeless.  I'm not sure he's the answer for this whole month though.
• Nigel Reo-Coker made the mistake of acknowledging the 108 hecklers early in the match, which only emboldened us.  Then at the end of the half he makes a stupid tackle on Brown to give up a PK.  Chalk up another win for 108!
• Great spin and shot by Powers for the first goal.  I'm not sure he even touched the ball until the shot but he confused the defense anyway.
• There was a nice exchange of looks between Brown and Sanchez after the penalty was given.  Deshorn seemed to be bringing the ball to Vicente with a "Look what I got you!' expression which made Sanchez smile.
• With the goal Sanchez breaks the tie for the goal-scoring lead with Brown and scores his 5th PK of the season.
• Stupid dissent yellow form LaBrocca late in the game.  Now he sits one yellow from suspension wile we're down a midfielder (Jose Mari) and possibly trading a second (Sturgis).
• At one point in the second half Irwin lit into Hairston for a missed assignment on defense.  It was more passionate a discussion than you usually see when a team was in control like the Rapids were.  Irwin really wanted the shutout.
• With the win the team moves into a tie for 3rd for best points per game in the league, and 2nd in the West behind Seattle.

Man of the Match: Vicente Sanchez.  It doesn't even look like he was injured, and had that bike actually have gone in late in the first we'd be talking about the Goal of the Year and a goal up there with Balboa's bike in 2000.