COMMERCE CITY — Colin Clark didn’t bother to think how he was going to win Wednesday night’s exhibition match. It just happened, albeit in a casual blur of speed.
Like a guy kicking stones in a park, Clark swept home his penalty kick past two-time World Cup goalkeeper Oscar Perez as the Rapids earned a 7-6 shootout victory over Mexico’s Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon — a.k.a. Tigres — after 90 minutes of scoreless soccer at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
“Nope,” Clark said when asked if he was aiming for a particular spot. “Just kick it as hard as I can.”
Terry Cooke, Mehdi Ballouchy, Tom McManus, Conor Casey, Ugo Ihemelu and Jose Burciaga Jr. all converted their spot kicks and three Tigres players missed Preston Burpo’s goal completely to set up Clark.
Second-year midfielder John DiRaimondo had a chance to win the game earlier, but Perez dived low to his right to extend the game.
“Hope I go the right way and get a hand on it,” Burpo said of his shootout philosophy. “The ones I guessed right on, I got close. The ones I guessed wrong on, they missed. So, go figure.”
Blas Perez, Jesus Chavez, Guillermo Marino, Mario Ruiz, Armando Pulido and Antonio Sancho all converted their attempts for two-time La Primera Division champion Tigres of Monterrey.
Jose Rivas, Manuel Viniegra and veteran defender Hugo Sanchez each missed for the visitors, who are in preseason training after finishing 13th in the 2008 Clausura.
Tigres coach Manuel Lapuente said his team was concerned about Colorado’s speed and was pleased with his team’s defense, which limited the Rapids to a handful of half-chances.
Tigres, however, faired even worse at their offensive end.
“We have not been scoring the last three or four games that we have,” Lapuente said.
Wearing their red-and-white third jersey, the Rapids deployed their reserves in a 4-4-2 formation with forward Herculez Gomez, who played in Mexico early in his career, donning the captain’s armband. It was a chance for the reserve players to impress as much as it was a chance for fans to get a prolonged look at 2007 draft pick Greg Dalby, who will officially join the team July 15.
Dalby marshaled the midfield, holding possession and spraying passes to both wings while getting plenty of defensive help from the active Ciaran O’Brien.
Veteran central defender Mike Petke took another stride toward full fitness when he replaced Stephen Keel to start the second half alongside Jordan Harvey, who was moved in from his usual left back position.
Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo slowly brought his first-team players into the game late in the second half.
