Meeting for the first time in 2015, the Colorado Rapids and Sporting KC renewed a decades-old regional rivalry on Saturday night. Colorado entered the match without having one in Kansas City since 2002, a span of 12 games. History repeated itself yet again as Sporting defeated the Rapids 2-0.
Another common theme reared its ugly head in the loss with the Rapids failing to score a goal for the second consecutive match.
“Goals determine results and unfortunately we were on the wrong side of it today,” Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni said postgame. “It’s about confidence. It’s about believing that you’re going to score. It’s about the ball bouncing the right way much like [Kansas City’s] second goal where it’s an own goal. It’s tough to do when things aren’t going your way.”
“It seems like everything is against us right now,” explained Rapids striker Luis Solignac, who carried Colorado’s attack with three first-half chances. “We’re trying so hard; fighting, shooting, doing everything. It seems like nothing will go in. We’re really frustrated.”
Despite starting the game with strings of possession in Kansas City’s defensive third, the Rapids once again conceded the game’s first goal when Krisztian Nemeth beat goalkeeper Clint Irwin in the 32nd minute.
“One chance and they score,” said a disappointed Solignac. “It’s hard to explain the feeling.”
Colorado’s ill fate continued in the second half with Sporting doubling the lead on an own goal from Sam Cronin in the 64th minute when the Rapids midfielder misread and mishit a cross from Benny Feilhaber.
“It’s indicative of the way things are going at the moment,” Mastroeni said of the goal. “When teams put the ball in dangerous areas, that’s where luck comes from.”
According to Solignac, the Rapids will have to muster and retain confidence if the team has any hope of revving up the offensive production and changing its current run of form.
“It’s not just me. It’s everyone,” he said. “We have to have confidence. Every game I take the responsibility on my shoulders. The last game [against Orlando] it was totally my fault with the chance I lost. But if I keep thinking about that, it might get worse. I have to keep going hard and [the first goal] will come.”
Marco Cummings covers the Colorado Rapids for MLSsoccer.com.
