WASHINGTON — Sometimes the result is more important than the performance. That was the case Saturday night for the Rapids, who used strong, gritty defense and a timely goal from midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy to defeat D.C. United 1-0.
The Rapids (4-3-1) left RFK Stadium with their first victory over D.C. United (1-7-0) in Washington since 1999.
“I thought we deserved our win,” Rapids coach Gary Smith said. “I’m absolutely delighted for the players, because the last two weeks we played ever so well and we’ve not got our reward.”
After back-to-back 1-0 losses despite strong performances, the Rapids hoped to come out firing Saturday.
“We wanted to come out and to take the game to them — which I thought we did — but then there was a period where it got really sloppy and carried on from there,” goalkeeper Matt Pickens said.
The tough, physical style of D.C. United stifled the Rapids through the first half. But in the 67th minute, Conor Casey found Ballouchy open on the right flank. Ballouchy dribbled the ball toward the box, took on D.C. United defender Juan Manuel Peña and unleashed a flurry of step-overs to create space before driving the ball past goalie Bill Hamid’s near post.
Colorado’s best chance of the first half fell to Casey. The striker found space in the D.C. United defense, but he sent a free header wide of the net in the 27th minute.
Rapids substitute Colin Clark almost scored in the 71st minute. He cut across the middle of the field and fired a shot that beat Hamid, but the ball bounced off the post.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game,” the Rapids’ Pablo Mastroeni said after the game. “And to come out of this with a positive result is a very good sign for this team.”
Colorado 0 1 — 1
D.C. United 0 0 — 0
First half — None.
Second half — 1, Colorado, Ballouchy 2, 67th minute.
Goalies — Colorado, Matt Pickens; D.C. United, Bill Hamid. Yellow cards — Castillo, D.C. United, 16th; Mastroeni, Colorado, 58th; Cristman, D.C. United, 74th; Ballouchy, Colorado, 94th-plus. Referee — Jorge Gonzalez. Assistant referees — Steve Taylor. Eric Proctor. Fourth official — Jason Anno.
