COMMERCE CITY — Things went from bad to bizarre for the Rapids on a windy Saturday that saw them tie a league record for futility along with the ejection of coach Pablo Mastroeni for protesting what was obviously a bad call.
With a 2-0 loss to New England, the Rapids (0-1-3) now are winless in their last 18 games going back to midsummer of 2014, tying the MLS record set by Real Salt Lake in 2005-06. They also have gone 600 minutes without scoring a goal, going back to the end of the season.
Mastroeni was sent off in the 61st minute after referee Fotis Bazakos awarded Colorado a penalty kick for a foul against Juan Ramirez in the penalty area but then reversed his decision after seeing a linesman had signaled that forward Gabriel Torres was offside. It was obvious to friend and foe that Torres moved into an offside position after the foul, not before, meaning the PK should have stood. New England led 2-0 at the time, but the Rapids were creating scoring chances, and it might have been a different game at 2-1.
Even former New England forward Taylor Twellman agreed with Mastroeni, tweeting: “That doesn’t make sense … isn’t the penalty BEFORE Torres is off?!”
Right or wrong, the ejection means Mastroeni can expect to be suspended for Colorado’s game at FC Dallas on Friday.
“If you’re going to call a penalty kick, it’s a penalty kick,” Mastroeni said. “If someone else has anything else to say, a linesman or a fourth official, there needs to be some sort of dialogue. The offside call happened after the penalty kick was given. This is what I got thrown out for — questioning that.
“Now, that wasn’t the reason we lost the game, but it was a very important moment in the game. Momentum is everything.”
Right now the momentum is a mounting pile of frustration. The Rapids have not lacked for scoring chances.
“It just seems as if our goal is covered with some kind of Saran Wrap,” Mastroeni said.
New England goalkeeper Bobby Shuttlesworth was exceptional, making five saves.
“It’s incredibly difficult to express how excited I am about the growth of this group and the potential, because they carry the same pressure,” Mastroeni said. “They’re the ones on the field that can’t put the ball in the net. All the good work that they’re doing cannot be validated until that ball goes in the net. Once that ball goes in the net, I think we’ll be a very, very good team.”
John Meyer: jmeyer@denverpost.com or twitter/johnmeyer
