For the second straight match the Columbus Crew played on the front foot for most of the night, but came away empty handed after a 2-0 defeat to the Colorado Rapids.
On the night the Rapids (4-4-3) only registered four shots, and only one in the first half, but found the back of the net twice and managed to keep Columbus from scoring despite 22 shots, including seven on goal.
Things almost got started before even a minute had passed with a chipped ball from striker Jairo Arrieta that caught the Colorado keeper off his line. Unfortunately for the Crew the ball sailed just wide of the mark, a regular occurrence on the night.
In the eighth minute the Rapids got things underway with a wonderfully worked goal from striker Edson Buddle. A pass over the top from Atiba Harris found Danny Mwanga in the box and the striker did just enough to fight off Crew defender Tyson Wahl to lay a pass to a streaking Buddle.
Over an hour later in the 69th minute Colorado put the game away when a Dillon Powers shot was deflected off the legs of Josh Williams and caught keeper Andy Gruenebaum out of position for the second goal of the match.
It was unfortunate for the Crew who had been threatening to score for a majority of the match, but couldn’t find the quality in the final third to get that breakthrough opportunity.
“I felt like the team actually played pretty well at times tonight but like you said it was that last pass and the last shot that just seemed to let us down time in and time out,” Columbus Crew midfielder Eddie Gaven stated. “Getting punished for it, they get two or three chances and they put both away and there’s the game.”
Back to back losses dampened a three-game home stand that started well with a 3-0 win over D.C. United and leaves Columbus with 12 points on the season. Now the Crew (3-4-3) take to the road to face Toronto FC in next Saturday at 5 pm ET.
Subside Sports Man of the Match: Forward Atiba Harris, Colorado Rapids
Even though he was not credited with either of the goals, Harris was the man for Colorado who made the difference in a night devoid of offensive chances. Putting the ball into Mwanga to help set up the first goal was his most notable contribution, but his runs pushed the Crew backline more than any other player and he was a part of most of the chances the Rapids created on the night.
