COMMERCE CITY — The Rapids were happy to see erstwhile goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul in goal for the visiting New York Red Bulls on Saturday night, and the longer the game went on, the happier they got.
Acquired June 29 after sitting out the first three months of the season without a contract, Coundoul looked rusty in his first game action since last October as the Rapids pummeled the hapless visitors 4-0.
“I made some mistakes. and I take the blame for it,” Coundoul said. “Rusty, I can say yes. It’s tough when you’re out for almost nine months without playing and all of a sudden you’re back in. I know I can do a lot better than I did today, but I’m a warrior. I’m just going to go back and train harder and harder.”
The Rapids got early goals in each half, from Jacob Peterson in the fifth minute and Pat Noonan in the 46th. Nick LaBrocca jumped on a Coundoul save to tally in the 61st minute and Mehdi Ballouchy scored with a free kick in the 67th.
The Red Bulls arrived winless in their previous 12 games, were still smarting from a 3-1 thrashing at home by the Los Angeles Galaxy on July 16, and had to play the second half a man down after midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic was ejected in first-half injury time.
The Rapids showed no mercy, having lost three of their previous four games. Coming on a night when the stadium was nearly full (16,816) for a make-up fireworks show, Colorado produced its first four-goal game since a 5-4 win at New York last Sept. 27.
The Rapids dominated despite missing two starters. Forward Conor Casey, who will play in the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday on Real Salt Lake’s home turf, was serving a yellow card suspension. Midfielder Colin Clark was away on national team duty.
“Tonight could have been a little bit of a banana skin,” said Rapids coach Gary Smith, meaning the opportunity for a pratfall against a struggling opponent was worrisome. “New York has got a lot of talent in that side, when you look at the individuals they have. For whatever reason, it’s not quite clicking for them. Tonight was another night when it didn’t, but you’ve still got to beat them.”
Late in the first half the Rapids lost defender Julien Baudet, who suffered a broken left wrist in a collision with Ubiparipovic.
New York 0 0 — 0
Colorado 1 3 — 4
First half — 1, Colorado, Peterson 2 (Cummings, Ihemelu), 5th minute.
Second half — 2, Colorado, Noonan 1 (Mastroeni), 47th. 3, Colorado, LaBrocca 2, 61st. 4, Colorado, Ballouchy 2, 67th.
Goalies — New York, Bouna Coundoul; Colorado, Matt Pickens.
Yellow cards — Krupnik, New York, 33rd; Baudet, Colorado, 34th; Petke, New York, 68th. Red cards — Ubiparipovic, New York, 47th+ Referee — Jason Anno. Assistant referees — Emiliano Monje. Peter Balciunas. 4th official — Ben Chouaf. A — 16,816 (18,086)
John Meyer: 303-954-1616 or jmeyer@denverpost.com
