Rapids Get Much Needed Three Points

The night started with a 2-hour rain delay (that this writer did not wait around for).  It ended with a 2-goal win for the home side in a game where nothing else was acceptable.  In between the Rapids controlled the first half and then were able to back off in the second when the Galaxy showed no teeth.

For the first 20 minutes LA had the best looks but couldn't turn them into anything.  A dangerous shot early went right over the crossbar and as Hansen leaped to cover it he slammed himself into the post.  For a minute it seemed like we might have a Beuadry sighting but he bounced back for the eventual shutout.  After that opening period though the first half was all Rapids, including two goals in 4 minutes.  Vines had a great chance to put us up early only to see his shot be pretty easily saved, but he turned around on the next attack and fed a perfect cross to Mihailovic (who, somehow, I left out of my starting XI prediction) to head home for the lead.  Then is was Navarro and Ku-DiPietro playing a nice 1-2 to set up Harris for the second goal.

After that the game kind of settled into a bunch of nothing.  Djordje had a chance right before half from a tight turning angle that he should have taken another beat on, instead he sent it out for a throw-in from inside the 6-yard box.  Harris hit the post right after half.  LA never looked really dangerous and the couple of times they did get a look at goal Hansen was up for the challenge.

There were some good things to see in this one.  Vines being more of his traditional 'Vines back' is a positive sign.  We really need him to bounce back to that.  Calvin Harris just staked a claim to start next to Ku-DiPietro, who himself had a strong outing.  And the Rapids took care of business against a team they should be beating without too much drama.

Its not all celebratory though.  Navarro again didn't get a goal (though he had two pulled out due to offside).  He's approaching Kevin Doyle territory, in that he's clearly a quality striker but the team can't figure out how to use him to score goals.  Also we shouldn't get too excited that we've turned a corner.  As far as quality of opponent the Galaxy go in the same bin as St. Louis and FSL.

But you can only play who's on the schedule and Colorado did what they needed to do.  If they can put another good outing together against New England on the road Saturday we might have something going.

Man of the Match: Calvin Harris.  There were actually a number of candidates, Hansen, Vines, and Djordje were all considered.  In the end though I decided to go with Harris for being a bit of a surprise and almost getting a second.