Rapids opened scoring with Kingsley receiving the ball inside the box as the benefit of a lucky bounce. Half-volleyed the ball over the keeper from about 8 yards out. Boulder gets a pair back, the first a real beauty from one of their forwards who received the ball with his back to net, turned and fired inside the post. Second goal an arguable mistake by Vallow, who came out to punch a free kick clear but was caught with his pants down, easy header for Boulder into the goal. In injury time of the 2nd half, Beckerman does well to earn a corner kick. Ensuing kick is cleared out of the box, but the official saw something happen in there and awarded the PK. Beckerman steps up and strikes it firm. Game ends at 2 apiece. More comments and lineups later at www.rapidsfan.com
Saving Face The something the official saw at the end was a disputed hand ball for a gift PK with about two minutes to play. Interesting that Colorado did not score in the run of play. I will be interested to hear people's comments who attended the game, I hear there were 3500 or so in attendance.
Re: Saving Face From where I was sitting, it was an obvious hand ball, though I was hoping the ref wouldn't call it. The Rapids deserved to lose. Conteh was there, did nothing, but to be fair he didn't have great service from anyone. Crawford, on a set piece, had a ball hit crossbar wood. Actually, in the second half Crawford was our most dangerous scoring threat playing from the left back position. 1st half lineup as best as I can remember it was Vallow Sleeth Borchers Kotschau Crawford Kingsley Piserchio (sp?) Trembly Rizo Carrieri and Schmidt 2nd Vallow (Foss) Sleeth Borchers Crawford Kingsley Hart Beckerman Rizo Conteh Blake I'm missing someone in the second half.
3500 people?!?!? That's funny as hell. 750 (maybe 1000). Good crowd turnout, no matter how you count. Blake looked good up top (a few good headers and a great back-heel flick potential assist that should've been burried). Better possession for Colorado with a few good counters by Boulder. Can't really learn much from this game except to watch individual performances. I arrived at the 30' mark. I agree that Crawford looked good. Vallow looked bad. Conteh looked like he was never involved (except for one time he passed it directly to Boulder). A set piece was taken well (not sure who took it, but they received a dink pass from the free kick and got it over the wall to strike the crossbar).
Kingsley and Crawford were real standouts for me. Piserchio seemed pretty confident for somebody playing with an MLS team for the first time. Trembly tried a backheel a couple of times in the first half that could turn into a good trick if he finds a better way of communicating that to the player he's trying to pass it to. Conteh looked pretty blah to me. To be honest, I have absolutely NO idea whatsoever what Powell looks like, and I was dead afraid that might be him! The game had such a community feel to it. It was nice to see so many people turn out---all 15,000 of us on that little hill... No, but really, it was fun to see all the players standing around signing autographs for kids afterwards, and it was good to get to say hi to all the players and let them know how I feel about them. (I only said "hi" if I had something else nice to say ) Got to talk to Hanki in the parking lot afterwards. I said it was nice to see Kingsley and Rizo get the chance to play a full 90, and he said it's important to give them the opportunity to do so to increase their match fitness. I asked who the fellow I hadn't recognized was---duh, it was Conteh!---and he said yeah, the altitude is wreaking havoc on his speed, that he expects it to take another couple of weeks to get him up to snuff. I also said Trembly has been an absolutely tireless bundle of energy these last few games, and Hanki said he likes the way Trembly & Beckerman pair together lately. He said, "Kyle goes like this [makes a sweeping, pendulum, back-and-forth arc with his finger], and Seth goes like this [makes short, straight, forward strokes with his finger]," so he likes the potential that has for some good combinations. So, Tim, if you're lurking, now you know that I go by chilistrider. It was good talking to you, and I hope I quoted you accurately here. Well, that's my feel-good, fluffy report of this evening's match. Perhaps there will be a more analytical, incisive post under this nom-de-plume in the coming hours [but it won't have capital letters].
IMO - Kingsley was the "man of the match", he seems fully recovered from injury and his fitness level was very solid. Although I believe Rizo is effective at left outside mid, he will do anything to avoid using his right foot. Not a masterpiece however it was far more entertaining than last week's match against DC United !
Unfortunately I didn't see a roster (didn't get one at the game and isn't one on their website) and the PA wasn't naming too many names during the run of play other than subs and scorers... but to me, the standout players for BRR were: Scott Bowman, #11, forward, who scored the goal of the match and pressured the younger Rapids defenders quite well both on and off the ball. The center back for most of the game, name and # unknown, a real tall, lanky fellow with long hair. Fast, very good in the air and to my knowledge he didn't make any mistakes. Made two or three couple of decent runs forward, too.
Well.... The tall, lanky kid with long hair is Clarence Goodson from the University of Maryland #22. He has come into the team over the last 5-6 games and help solidify the defense. BRR has not lost since he joined the team in the back.
yeah, Goodson is a ROCK for Maryland in the back. BTW, that team HANDS DOWN has to be the favorite for the College Title this year. they lost NO ONE.
Re: Re: Re: Saving Face Schmidt was subbed in for Rizo and Piserchio came back in for Sleeth. I'm still missing one of the second half starters. Whoever it was didn't play great or I would have remembered him. I was impressed with the left back for the Rapids Reserves. He took some of the corners, if not all, and had the assist on the Reserves second goal. I'm thinking his number was 4.
The Reserves had a few standouts. The left back is Robbie Folbrycht. I have heard the Rapids have shown interest in fim. He is very good. Also, Joe Lampart the tall lanky guy in the center back position. He scored the second goal. Strong defense. He has scored three goals in the Reserves last four games. Not bad for a center back. Strange seeing Carreri, Henderson, and Garlick run to their cars after the game instead of signing autographs. All in all great for the Boulder community.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Saving Face How embarrassing for that player we can't remember. Or, how embarrassing for us and our limited short-term memories. Either way, I am stumped.