COMMERCE CITY — Recent acquisition Caleb Folan introduced himself to Rapids fans Sunday night with two brilliant goals, but the lethal blow came from midfielder Jamie Smith when his team really needed it.
A minute after D.C. United’s Santino Quaranta scored early in the second half to tie the game 1-1, Smith answered with a header that was devastating to the psyche of the visitors.
The Rapids would prevail 4-1, making the MLS champions the only 3-0-0 team in the league, but for a few minutes after intermission the game seemed up for grabs.
“I felt there was a shift in the game before D.C. scored, and they had us on the rack a little bit,” Rapids coach Gary Smith said. “To strike back so quickly not only lifted our guys and got us back in front, but after all of (DCU’s) efforts and the energy — the sheer will from their side to get back in the game — it was a real kick in the teeth for (Smith) to score so quickly.
“The most important moment of the game, beyond a shadow of a doubt.”
True, but Folan’s sensational home debut had to delight the crowd of 9,857 that turned out on a cold, windy evening.
A 6-foot-2 Irish international striker who most recently played for Hull City, Folan made it 1-0 in the 39th minute when he mesmerized DCU defender Rodrigo Brasesco with some nasty footwork in the penalty area, moved to his left and blasted a shot that beat diving goalkeeper Pat Onstad in the left corner.
“When you get the ball in the (penalty) area, all you need is to put the defender off,” Folan said. “They don’t really want to commit a foul, because they’ll give away a penalty, so if you just put them off, that’s where you see a lot of skills coming into play. It gains an extra yard and gives you the space to let go of the shot.”
After the quick exchange of goals in the second half, Folan scored again on a leaping header to make it 3-1, but he gave credit to midfielder Sanna Nyassi for setting him up.
“Once he gains an extra yard, I know he’s going to cross the ball,” Folan said. “I was just hoping it would be a good cross, which I could challenge. Thankfully I saw it coming, managed to time my jump and got on the end of it.”
Folan victimized Brasesco again, outjumping him and snapping the header past Onstad to make it 3-1 in the 81st minute.
“It felt great,” Folan said. “It’s an honor to be here. I tried to give it my all, to give it my best for the people watching and for the team. I guess I got my rewards by getting a few goals. Really pleased with that.”
So was his coach, especially after Conor Casey left the game with a hamstring injury of undetermined severity.
“I’m not sure (Folan) could have wished for a better home debut,” Smith said. “I’m not sure I could have. I think he’s just started to show what he is capable of. He’s a big, strong, athletic lad, and we’ve seen that he can score goals as well.”
D.C. United 0 1 — 1
Colorado 1 3 — 4
First half — 1, Colorado, Folan 1 (Larentowicz), 38th minute.
Second half — 2, D.C. United, Quaranta 1 (Korb), 70th. 3, Colorado, Smith 2 (Wallace), 71st. 4, Colorado, Folan 2 (Nyassi), 81st. 5, Colorado, Cummings 2 (Mastroeni), 90th+.
Goalies — D.C. United, Pat Onstad; Colorado, Matt Pickens.
Yellow cards — Casey, Colorado, 16th; McCarty, D.C. United, 41st; Burch, D.C. United, 83rd.
Referee — Elias Bazakos. Assistant referees — Craig Lowry. Corey Parker. 4th official — Alex Prus.
John Meyer: 303-954-1616 or jmeyer@denverpost.com
