COMMERCE CITY — When a soccer team is having trouble scoring goals, it will take them any way it can get them.
And if the Rapids caught a lucky break Saturday night when San Jose’s goalkeeper mishandled a ball that ended up an own goal in Colorado’s favor, they can cite all sorts of unlucky breaks this season — like the game-winner San Jose scored against them in May that should have been disallowed for offside.
Entering the game with a seven-game winless streak, a 3-1-4 home record and the prospect of road games the next two weeks, the Rapids prevailed 1-0 and moved into a third-place tie with Dallas in the Western Conference.
“It was a very important win, not just for three points, but as we move forward, for confidence,” said Rapids coach Gary Smith. “We’re on the move again, hopefully.”
Playing without leading scorer Conor Casey for the second game because of the head injury he suffered July 25, the Rapids dominated most of the evening. But the game turned in the 26th minute on a gaffe by San Jose goalkeeper Jon Busch.
At midfield, Wells Thompson fed a nice ball to Kosuke Kimura, who laid it off to Omar Cummings on the left wing. Cummings crossed the ball, which skipped in front of Busch, glanced off his hands and went into his net.
San Jose coach Frank Yallop blamed the controversial Jabulani ball, which was roundly criticized during the recent World Cup for its unpredictability.
“Apparently the ball moved two, three feet the last second,” Yallop said. “They’re difficult balls to deal with. It’s hurting goalkeepers.”
Literally and figuratively. Busch jammed a thumb on the play.
“It was a cross that ended up in a shot,” Cummings said with a laugh. “The balls move generally. You never know which way they’re going to go half the time.”
The game took a heartbreaking turn in the 55th minute when Colin Clark went down untouched with a left knee injury. The Fort Collins native ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in that knee a year ago this week.
“No sense in worrying about something,” Clark said of the possibility the ACL was involved again. “If it happens, it does. If not, all the best.”
It was a rough night for homegrown talent. San Jose defender Bobby Burling, a graduate of Lewis-Palmer High School, stayed in the game after suffering a foot contusion in the first half.
San Jose 0 0 — 0
Colorado 1 0 — 1
First half — 1, Colorado, Busch (own goal), 26th minute.
Second half — None.
Goalies — San Jose, Jon Busch; Colorado, Matt Pickens.
Referee — Hilario Grajeda. Assistant referees — Adam Garner. Frank Anderson. 4th official — Landis Wiley.
John Meyer: 303-954-1616 or jmeyer@denverpost.com
