The entire Colorado Rapids organization – from head coach Pablo Mastroeni to rookie striker Dominique Badji – have emphasized that once the goals came, they would come in bunches.
Those sentiments proved prophetic after their 4-0 win Friday night over FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, with Colorado ending both their 600-minute scoreless and 18-match winless streaks.
It started with Badji’s opening goal in the second minute, which ended the second longest goal-less streak in MLS history.
“It felt great. It was a huge weight off my shoulders and a huge weight off of everyone on the team,” the Senegalese striker said of his first professional goal. “Honestly, everybody on the team knew that after the first one went in, a lot more were going to come.”
Rapids midfielder Dillon Powers yet again proved to be a difference maker at the No. 10 position, creating the chance for Badji. Just before the close of the half, Powers also proved that the Rapids’ scoring touch wasn’t an anomaly, doubling Colorado’s lead with a smooth strike from the left side of the box in the 43rd minute.
“I think getting that early goal really helped us,” Powers said. “To get that second and keep adding on was a great start for us.”
Rapids director of soccer Claudio Lopez, who took over coaching duties for the suspended Pablo Mastroeni, said getting that first one was a difference maker.
“The guys had the confidence for shooting, for doing the plays we were training during the week and the finishing was good,” Lopez said.
The floodgates continued to open in the second half.
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Gabriel Torres extended the lead to 3-0 with his goal in the 70th minute, marking his first score since last September. After being subbed on for Powers, Rapids homegrown Dillon Serna capped off a night of offensive fireworks, scoring the Rapids’ fourth goal in the 85th minute on a left-footed rocket from 10 yards outside the box.
It marked the first three-point result for the team since last July’s 3-0 win over Chivas USA and the first road victory in nearly a year, dating back to last April’s 1-0 defeat of Toronto F.C.
“I think we were really confident. We lost last week, but we had a lot of chances. We felt like we were just knocking on the door,” Powers said. “To come in against this team and score four goals and not give up any, that’s a great result for us.”
The dominant win also served as a storybook return for Colorado team captain and central defender Drew Moor, a Dallas native, who made a comeback following a nearly eight-month recovery from an ACL tear suffered last August against D.C. United.
“It’s funny. I didn’t think about it. I didn’t know I was going to start until 48 hours before the game,” Moor said of his return. “[Mastroeni] told me some words that resonated with me. He told me ‘You’re ready.’
“Being back here in Dallas, I know this stadium as well as the stadium back in Denver. It’s a good feeling. I’ve been emotional about it, my first major [injury]. Something you wouldn’t want to wish on your worst enemy. Unfortunately I don’t have much time to enjoy it. We’ve got Seattle next week.”
