SANTA CLARA, CALIF. — They may be off to the best start in franchise history, but the Rapids continue to be mystified by the San Jose Earthquakes.
In a game with few scoring chances, Colorado fell to San Jose 1-0 on Saturday night in front of 8,674 fans at Buck Shaw Stadium. The Rapids (3-2-1) haven’t beaten the Earthquakes (3-2-0) since 2004, a span of 12 matches.
A sloppy game by both sides was decided in the 33rd minute, when the Earthquakes found themselves with numbers on a counterattack. Ryan Johnson tipped Ramiro Corrales’ long pass to Chris Wondolowski, who quickly fired a left-footed blast off the crossbar and in. It was the first goal against Colorado this season that didn’t come off a set piece, but Rapids coach Gary Smith indicated that he believed Wondolowski was offside.
“It’s nil-nil right now, we’ve done our job. But at the moment, we’ve gotten some strange calls,” Smith said.
Colorado controlled the pace for much of the first half but didn’t get a serious scoring opportunity until the 45th minute, when San Jose goalie Joe Cannon was forced to make a diving save on Wells Thompson’s shot. It was the only shot on goal in the opening half for the Rapids, who put just two of their 12 shots on goal.
“We had good possession but didn’t convert that into many chances,” Smith said. “Individuals that we really look to Their form deserted them tonight.”
The Rapids had few looks at an equalizer in the second half. Pablo Mastroeni hit a long, running shot wide and Danny Earls missed on a good look from 25 yards, but Colorado had trouble getting anything going inside the box.
The night was particularly frustrating for leading scorer Conor Casey, who struggled to free himself from the Earthquakes’ back line. Casey’s best scoring chance came early, but he couldn’t get much power on a header in front of San Jose’s goal.
“The (second half), he maybe drifted out of the game a little,” Smith said. “San Jose, being up one, got tighter, and it was harder for us to find him.”
Colorado earned a final good look in the 88th minute, but Mehdi Ballouchy sailed a 20-yard free kick over the crossbar.
The Rapids fell six points behind Western Conference-leading Los Angeles, which will visit Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Wednesday.
Colorado 0-0—0
San Jose 1-0—1
First half — 1, San Jose, Wondolowski 3 (Johnson, Corrales), 33rd minute.
Second half — None.
Goalies — Colorado, Matt Pickens; San Jose, Joe Cannon.
Cautions — Leitch, San Jose, 87th; Convey, San Jose, 98th+; Thompson, Colorado, 98th+.
Referee — Baldomero Toledo. Assistant referees — Frank Anderson. Jeff Muschik. 4th official — Tyler Ploeger.
Lineups
Colorado: Matt Pickens, Kosuke Kimura, Danny Earls (Julien Baudet, 61st), Drew Moor, Marvell Wynne, Jeff Larentowicz (Claudio Lopez, 77th), Pablo Mastroeni, Mehdi Ballouchy, Wells Thompson, Omar Cummings (Quincy Amarikwa, 70th), Conor Casey.
San Jose: Joe Cannon, Jason Hernandez, Bobby Burling, Chris Leitch, Andre Luiz (Brad Ring, 59th), Joey Gjersten, Ramiro Corrales (Justin Morrow, 83rd), Bobby Convey, Brandon McDonald, Ryan Johnson (Eduardo, 59th), Chris Wondolowski.
