COMMERCE CITY — When asked to survey the wreckage of Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Toronto FC, Rapids forward Herculez Gomez talked like someone in a bad relationship.
“Let’s be honest,” he said, “Something’s not working, something’s not right, something has to change. That’s the bottom line.”
Whether the Rapids, who often looked like a date from hell, hit rock bottom on a sunny afternoon at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park remains to be seen.
The prognosis, however, is one of sickness looking increasingly grim, and the words “We were the better team, but . . . ” becoming a suitable engraving for a tombstone should this season end dead with no playoffs.
Coach Fernando Clavijo said he was embarrassed by his team’s effort, especially the continued lack of finishing. Adding to it was the ejection and subsequent one-game suspension of winger Colin Clark after he was booked twice. He got into a verbal scrap before halftime and checked defender Nana Attakora-Gyan into the signage boards in the 70th minute.
“Players needed to perform and they didn’t do that,” Clavijo said.
Colorado (6-10-3) extended its winless streak to four games and dropped its second straight at home.
Toronto (7-8-4) swept the season series and won on the road for just the second time in nine tries, thanks to a curving free kick by Chad Barrett in the 44th minute, arguably the Red’s only clear scoring chance of the day.
For every half-chance the Rapids created, they were guilty of an equal amount of giveaways and an inability to match the resolve of a Reds team that hadn’t won since June 14 and was missing a handful of starters.
Pointing out that he’s been playing professionally for eight seasons, Gomez said the proverbial writing is on the wall for a team that he believes is very talented. And falling out of contention.
“I’ve been on a team that’s been in first place and fired their coach. Things happen,” Gomez said. “I’ve seen great players have bad seasons and go. That’s the nature of the beast. Right now we’ve got to do something, whether it’s formation, personnel, whatever.”
The Rapids had two early chances to take control. Conor Casey missed the goal with a close-range header in the third minute and Omar Cummings beat goalkeeper Greg Sutton in the 15th, only to have his shot poked away by Jamaican countryman Tyrone Marshall.
The chances kept coming to the Rapids, but they lacked the surgical pass or shot to cut through the Reds.
“They don’t give ‘possible wins’ at the end of the year. They give wins and losses,” defender Ugo Ihemelu said.
And this was as bad a loss as ever.
Toronto FC 1 0 — 1
Colorado 0 0 — 0
First half — 1, Toronto FC, Barrett 6, 44th minute.
Second half — None.
Goalies — Toronto FC, Sutton; Colorado, Coundoul. A — 11,752 (18,086).
