The Colorado Rapids remain unbeaten since April 9, but missed an opportunity to earn a full three points at home on Saturday after Philadelphia scored an equalizer in stoppage time to earn a 1-1 draw at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
The match pitted the top team in the East, Philadelphia, with the top team in MLS, Colorado. The Rapids controlled most of the defensive battle, including possession by a 22.4 percent margin and shots by a 13:5 ratio, but the game ended all level. It was the first non-victory result for Colorado on their home pitch this year.
“We had plenty of chances in the game,” said veteran midfielder Sam Cronin, “we hit the crossbar a number of times. So we’re disappointed in the result obviously, but realistically we probably weren’t going to win every game at home. We’re still in great form, just a little better finishing and I think it’s a different result.”
Colorado was without two of its top offensive players, Jermaine Jones and Shkelzen Gashi, who are both playing with their national sides in the Copa America and the Euro, respectively.
That’s no excuse for head coach Pablo Mastroeni, however.
“The way we talk about it is, everyone needs to play,” Mastroeni said postgame. “You’ve got to go out there and win with the players that you have. To me, the most important thing is that you have to go out and prove yourself every week regardless of who’s available or who’s injured.”
Colorado missed two excellent chances to take full control the match, as Cronin indicated, when Dillon Powers in the 70th minute and then Luis Solignac in the 80th each hit the crossbar.
It was Cronin’s header in the 87th opened the scoring on a cross from Marlon Hairston. Brian Carroll netted the equalizer for the Union at full time plus two minutes.
Colorado is off until June 18 to make room for the aforementioned Copa America. They hold a one point lead on surging Dallas, who can pass them in the standings with a win on June 2. Dallas played to a nil-nil draw on Saturday against San Jose.
