Perhaps it was the snowflakes falling in the first half Saturday night that put the Rapids in a soft, gift-giving mood against the struggling MetroStars.
Reigning Major League Soccer most valuable player Amado Guevara scored twice inside 26 minutes and bagged his hat trick in the second half as the MetroStars punished the sluggish Rapids 3-1 in front of a crowd of 10,259.
The MetroStars (1-1-2) won for the first time this season, snapping Colorado’s 12-game regular-season home unbeaten streak in the process. It was the first hat trick surrendered by Rapids goalie Joe Cannon in his career and the first time in 25 home matches the Rapids have given up two or more goals.
Substitute Jeff Cunningham prevented the shutout by grabbing a consolation goal for the Rapids in the 90th minute, his second of the season.
One week after a lively 2-0 victory over Columbus, the Rapids took two painful steps back.
“We just didn’t come out comfortable enough to play, touch the ball and move off each other,” midfielder Pablo Mastroeni said. “We were just giving up balls all over the field.”
Colorado (1-3-1) was unable to match the MetroStars’ intensity and was pried apart too easily by the visitors’ quick counterattack. The Rapids did not control the flanks or possession, giving away too many balls in the air.
Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo criticized his team’s complacent play, lack of movement off the ball and defensive spacing.
“I thought the team didn’t perform, all the way from the beginning,” Clavijo said.
Eight days after missing a penalty kick, Guevara converted from the spot in the 23rd minute after rookie Rapids defender Hunter Freeman knocked down MetroStars forward Mike Magee in the penalty area.
Guevara scored his second three minutes later when he was allowed to gather a loose ball off an Eddie Gaven cross and punch a shot past Cannon.
“Obviously, to come back with a great game and three goals says a lot about what kind of guy he is,” MetroStars coach Bob Bradley said.
Said Clavijo of his team’s defending on Guevara: “We had four defenders marking one, and we never really marked him close enough.”
Guevara bagged his first MLS hat trick in the 73rd minute when he beat Cannon to his near post after a failed clearance by Freeman.
“He hit it to the point where, as a goalie, if you’re not looking for the shot from that angle. …” Cannon said. “I think he just ripped it and prayed.”
The Rapids thought they pulled a goal back just before halftime but Mark Chung’s goal was ruled out for a foul on goalie Zach Wells.
MetroStars 2 1 – 3
Colorado 0 1 – 1
First half – 1, MetroStars, Guevara 1 (penalty kick), 23rd minute. 2, MetroStars, Guevara 2 (Gaven), 26th.
Second half – 3, MetroStars, Guevara 3 (Ibrahim), 73rd. 4, Colorado, Cunningham 2 (Nkong), 90th.
Goalies – MetroStars, Wells; Colorado, Cannon.
A – 10,259 (27,000).
