Luchi Gonzalez’s Major League Soccer comeback just became legitimate.
The former San Jose striker and Southern Methodist standout notched an assist and goal Saturday as the Rapids ran away from the Columbus Crew 2-0 before a crowd of 10,155 at Invesco Field at Mile High.
With injured forwards Jean Philippe Peguero and Jeff Cunningham not fit enough to start, and Wolde Harris resigned to the bench, Gonzalez partnered Alain Nkong in attack and put on a tireless display to get his first goal since returning to MLS from Peru.
“I was able to run off of him into the spaces,” Gonzalez said of Nkong. “He was drawing them and creating a hole for me to run into.”
Gonzalez assisted on a thundering goal from captain Pablo Mastroeni – his first as a Rapid – just 62 seconds in to set the tone for Colorado’s first victory under coach Fernando Clavijo.
“It’s good to score every once in awhile and get everything going on the right foot for the team and the season,” said Mastroeni, who dedicated his strike to his six-week-old baby, Gianluca.
Chris Henderson assisted on both goals, laying a soft header back for Mastroeni’s opener and then finding Gonzalez for his goal in the 57th minute.
The Rapids (1-2-1) extended their unbeaten streak against the Crew (2-2-0) to five games, who were reduced to 10 men in the 76th minute when Mario Rodriguez was sent off for a foul on Peguero.
“The team played well,” Clavijo said. “The concentration was there for 90 minutes.”
As was the effort.
The Rapids had the lion’s share of possession and moved the ball comfortably around. Colorado pried at the Crew with short passes before loading up either flank for crosses into the box.
Every one of Colorado’s six attacking players had their dangerous moments, while a Nat Borchers-led defense was unflappable and physical, especially against Crew striker Edson Buddle.
The Crew regrouped after Mastroeni’s goal but gave away too many balls trying to pass over the top of Colorado’s defense.
“I thought we tried to be too fine and overpass in the middle,” Columbus coach Greg Andrulis said. “We need to get the ball forward; get the ball wide. We tried to break them down with intricacy.”
Rapids midfielder Terry Cooke was solid in his starting debut, just missing Nkong with a searching ball in the 15th minute and then nearly connecting on a deflected cross from left back Eric Denton in the 17th minute.
Denton was constantly pushing forward, as was right back counterpart Hunter Freeman.
“We didn’t give them any room to move and I thought we occupied the flanks very well,” Clavijo said.
The Rapids extended their regular-season home unbeaten streak to 12 games.
Colorado 1 1-2
Columbus 0 0-0
First period – Colorado, Pablo Mastroeni 1 (Henderson 2, Gonzalez 1), 2nd minute.
Second period – Colorado, Luchi Gonzalez 1 (Henderson 3), 57th.
Goalies – Columbus (Busch); Colorado (Cannon). Yellow card – Mastoreni, Colorado, 39th minute; John Hayes Rodriguez, Columbus, 76th. A – 10,165.
