COMMERCE CITY — Primarily because of injuries, Rapids fans might have had a hard time recognizing their team Saturday night.
Only two starters — goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul and midfielder Terry Cooke — were in the starting lineup on opening day last year when the Rapids christened their new stadium with a 2-1 victory over DC United. Four players who were in the starting lineup that day — Ugo Ihemelu, Mike Petke, Herculez Gomez and Jovan Kirovski — remain on the roster but are injured. Gomez came off the bench Saturday in the 68th minute.
Also unavailable because of injury was striker Conor Casey.
Greg Vanney, who started on the back line for the Rapids last season, started for the Galaxy on Saturday night. Landon Donovan was the only Galaxy starter who started the team’s season opener last year.
O’Brien sees red.
Rapids rookie midfielder Ciaran O’Brien had an auspicious debut when he came on as a second-half substitute and was sent off for a hard foul on Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz.
Colorado left back Jose Burciaga Jr. shouldered Ruiz first before O’Brien cut him down with an ill-timed tackle.
O’Brien said referee Abiodun Okulaja told him he was getting a yellow card, but changed his mind after either seeing the replay on the screen or talking to one of his assistants.
“It’s a little bit of a bummer that had to happened in the end, but that’s the way it goes,” O’Brien said. “It’s probably not smart on my part to do a tackle like that with two minutes to go.”
Galaxy forward Donovan took the most exception as he rushed in and shoved Colorado’s first-round draft pick.
John Meyer and Brian Forbes, The Denver Post
