A tie by any other name could not be as sweet as the 2-2 draw the Colorado Rapids walked away with after their match against the New York Red Bulls last night.
Twenty of the Rapids players have started so far this season, a fact that is a result of all the injuries the defending champions have occurred. Because of this, it has been difficult for the team to gel and turn possession into goals. That all seemed to change last night, as another new starting XI took on the leaders in the Eastern Conference.
From the moment of kickoff, both teams were assertive and dynamic in their performance. At the 26th minute, Andre Akpan drew a foul in the box. Jeff Larentowicz took the penalty kick, which was stopped by the keeper, yet rebounded right back to Larentowicz who then successfully placed the ball into the back of the net.
The Red Bulls were annoyed with the 1-0 lead the Rapids now had on them, and within two minutes of that PK, Thierre Henry responded by scoring a goal in front of his fans, which included Arsenal superstars, Robin Van Persie and Cesc Fabregas, making the score 1-1.
With a focused confidence, the Rapids continued to play strong. At the 32nd minute, Larentowicz took a free kick which cleared the defensive wall, into the net. The score was now 2-1 Rapids. Not to be outdone, the Red Bulls quickly had the ball down the field, and Luke Rodgers chipped the ball in the goal, and made the final score 2-2. In a New York record-breaking time, four goals were scored in less than ten minutes.
As the energy settled down, the talent level swelled. The Rapids, including the younger players, seemed united, anticipating each other’s movements, and creatively making plays happen. In the second half, both teams made shots, but no more goals were produced.
The Colorado Rapids haven’t lost in six matches, but haven’t won since May 4. Most of the ties have been a disappointment to the squad, but this draw should be considered a significant achievement. The reigning champions played as a unified group, with the new starters finally looking like they belong.
The Rapids' next match is this Saturday at 7:00pm, when they will face Sporting KC at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
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