Two inches made up the difference Wednesday night between the Rapids and the Houston Dynamo.
Nicolas Hernandez’s shot in the 35th minute caromed off the goalpost and into the net for his fifth goal of the season and a 1-0 Rapids win before 4,220 fans at Invesco Field at Mile High.
“We set the tempo from the beginning,” Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo said. “It was a physical game; that’s how Houston plays. But we didn’t let them use the weapons they use so well.”
Off a throw-in, Thiago Martins held defenders at his back, then deftly passed to Hernandez, who was streaking toward the goal on the left side. His shot hit the left goalpost and eluded a diving Pat Onstad for the Rapids’ (8-6-4) first victory over the Dynamo.
“It was a beautiful goal,” Hernandez said. “For me personally, that was my favorite goal that I have scored here. The whole team was involved on it, and it was important to get it against a rival for three points.”
The Dynamo (8-4-7), which had not lost since May 20, had plenty of chances to tie, but Rapids goalie Joe Cannon stifled it. In one sequence during the 86th minute, Cannon had three saves.
“That’s why Joe is the best in the league,” Clavijo said.
An acrobatic Cannon dived to the left and got a hand on the ball to make one stop, and seconds later he leaped to send it out of bounds. After a shot on goal in the 87th minute, Cannon finally was able to clear the ball.
“It was one of those games where everything just got crazy at the end,” said Cannon, who finished with five saves. “If you ask the other team, they would love to have those shots back. I was fortunate to get a good hand on a couple of them. That’s my job.”
Cannon seemed to be in the right place from the beginning, but even he needed a little luck to preserve the win. On a shot similar to Hernandez’s goal, Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis sprinted along the left sideline and dribbled toward the goal, but his shot went high and ricocheted off the crossbar and was cleared. Another inch to the right and the shot would have had the same result as Hernandez’s winning effort.
Rapids midfielder Daniel Wasson made his first start, playing in front of family and friends from Colorado Springs.
“I’m glad to get that first start under me. I just tried to take it like a normal game,” Wasson said. “I’ve been starting my whole life. It was just my first professional start.”
It is the Rapids’ sixth win in games in which they have scored first.
Houston 0 0 – 0
Colorado 1 0 – 1
First half – 1, Colorado, Hernandez 5 (Martins), 35th minute.
Second half – None.
Goalies – Houston, Onstad; Colorado, Cannon.
A – 4,220 (27,000).
