COMMERCE CITY- The Colorado Rapids dropped to 5-5-11 Saturday night as NYCFC snuck in a game-winning goal from Alexandru Mitrita, putting them ahead 2-1 just before the end of regulation.
The Rapids night started with a promising counter attack started by Jonathan Lewis in the 6th minute who found Sebastian Andersen in the box for the tap-in to put them ahead 1-0. It is the 16-year-olds first career professional goal. When the night looked like a coming out party for the rookie, he was just as quickly sent packing for the night. In the 33rd minute, a late slide tackle that caught the calf on Ronald Matarrita was deemed egregious enough for a straight red card.
On the red card, Rapids Head Coach Conor Casey said, “Unfortunately we were only able to see that first thirty minutes because then with the red card you have to adjust – but mentality – mentality over and over again.”
Soon after the send-off, Heber cradled a lobbed pass behind the defenders where he was able to slip one passed Tim Howard to tie the game at 1.
After the early lead, the Rapids defense performed admirably in the stopping several passes in the final third and a few key saves from replacement keeper Clint Irwin. Ultimately, however, they came up short in trying to hold off the NYCFC heavy attacking pressure, which was compounded after going down to 10 men.
Throughout the game, the NYC offense were largely dominant with the ball, holding possession 78% of the time and 29 total shots compared to the Rapids 8.
Multiple blunders on open shots left the NYCFC faithful tense throughout the 2nd half. It was only a matter of time before a Rapids defender would slip up and eventually Mitrita found his opportunity in the 83rd minute and shot a laser from outside the box that was well out of reach of Irwin.
On the Mitrita goal, Conor Casey said, “Their second goal is offsides on the play – that’s also not called, given the fact of the enormous discrepancies in calls – the fact that we were still able to battle away and get chances in the end – I’m just so extremely proud of the players.”
Beyond the red-card there were certainly fouls called towards the end that seemed to benefit NYCFC and their ability to stop the Rapids from finding a last minute equalizer. While it’s certainly a missed opportunity for Colorado to gain some points, all they can do is move on to their game next Saturday, July 27th, where they head to San Jose to take on the Quakes.
NYCFC will head back home for their game on Friday against Sporting KC.
Written by Paul Fritz
Image Credit: Garrett Ellwood / Colorado Rapids
