Chivas USA’s impressive winning streak on the road unfortunately came to an end on Saturday night as they were hammered 4-0 by the Colorado Rapids. It was another match that featured the breaking of records, as The Goats lost their ‘Road Warrior’ status, and the Rapids ended their three game losing streak. The final score-line though was perhaps a bit flattering for Colorado as Chivas USA dominated proceedings despite being 1-0 down, until a late collapse in the final 10 minutes allowed a further three unanswered goals.
Arriving in Colorado after last week’s home defeat, Chivas USA were hoping for the kind of away day performance that has already typified their early season so far. With no goals or points from four home fixtures this year, all of The Goats’ luck had come when they were on their travels. However, it was a reversal of fortunes on Saturday evening, as they showed the Rapids fans a Home Depot Center style performance. Chivas USA dominated possession, created several decent opportunities but failed to reply to any of the goals that they conceded. Chivas USA fans have witnessed some frustrating yet, somewhat optimistically, positive performances this season but this defeat has to be the worst of the season so far.
Robin Fraser, once again, made a couple of changes to his team in hope of freshening up a side struggling for goals. He selected the newly fit Juan Pablo Angel as his main striker, after his sub appearance against Philadelphia, and also brought Laurent Courtois back into the starting XI. Hopes of a bright, goal scoring start were soon dashed as the game settled into what was a fairly dull first half. Colorado Rapids controlled possession early on and when Chivas USA did manage to get the ball they were guilty of too many turnovers. The best chance of the first half did fall to the Goats though, but a good double save from the Rapids keeper kept it level at 0-0 going into the interval.
Another forty-five minutes of football had passed and the Rojiblancos had not showed any real signs that they were capable of taking the lead. With a clear lack of decisiveness and power going forward it was apparent that substitutions could be crucial to the outcome of this game. Before any changes could be made though Colorado took the lead. Just five minutes after the restart, from their first corner, Tony Cascio chested the ball past his marker and rifled the ball past the hapless Chivas defense and into the net. It was a great strike from the rookie and one that Robin Fraser can’t have too many complaints about. All the goals his team has lost this season have all been blamed on a lack of concentration or focus but this was a good goal worthy of winning the game. Nevertheless, this was not going to be the winning goal.
One of the only positives to take from this game was that, for 30 minutes, the team responded well to going 1-0 down. They committed more going forward, wrestled back possession of the ball and started to look dangerous in the final third. Miller Bolaños was behind a lot of the attacks and almost achieved an assist when his cross fell to Courtois, who hit could only hit the post with his shot. Ryan Smith came on as a substitute and, as always, looked like he would be the one to unlock the Rapids defense with some energetic play. James Riley also found himself charging forward in hope of an equalizer and forced ‘keeper Matt Pickens into a fine acrobatic save near the end. The reaction of the players was pleasing but still lacking in the usual areas and that is where the positives end.
With their away record at stake, and pressing forward in desperation, Chivas USA left themselves open at the back and had an embarrassing collapse in the last 10 minutes. The Rapids hit them on the counter attack and scored 3 late goals to seal their fate. The first came in the 82nd minute when Kamani Hill found the back of the net, before Ante Jazic gave the referee an easy decision to award a penalty only 2 minutes later. Jeff Larentowicz had no problem in converting the penalty kick and after a spirited fight Chivas USA found themselves 3-0 down and out of the game. The scoring was not over though and in stoppage time, the lead was extended to four when Hill bagged a brace to make it 4-0.
Despite going close on a couple of occasions, and even before the last three goals, Chivas USA did not deserve anything from this game. Up until the late Colorado onslaught, The Goats were the better team and Dan Kennedy was rarely troubled in goal. However, what is now a feature of Chivas USA is their ineptitude in front of goal and this wasn’t in any danger of changing on Saturday. Perhaps losing by four goals was a bit flattering for Colorado, as their opponents seemed to just give up instantly after that 2nd goal. This was infuriating though, considering that any Chivas USA success this year has been reliant on a solid defensive display. So with their first away loss and another goalless performance they will now have to turn their attention to finding some home form if they are to stay close to the other teams in the conference. The Chicago Fire are in town next week and Chivas USA still chase their first goal and points at the HDC this season. Maybe with their away record, and their title of ‘Road Warriors’, coming to an end we might just see an end to that poor home record now.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
