COMMERCE CITY — A matchup of two cellar-dwelling Western Conference teams resulted in an ugly game and more home futility for the Rapids on Saturday night before a restless crowd of 18,209 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Having ended an 11-game winless streak at home last week with a 1-0 victory over Vancouver, the Rapids (2-4-7) struggled all evening and fell 2-1 as the Timbers won for the first time in seven trips to Colorado.
The Rapids did manage to tie the game 1-1 on a goal by midfielder Sam Cronin in the 89th minute, but their hearts were broken in stoppage time when Jack Jewsbury buried the winner for the Timbers (5-5-4).
Most of the game was a joyless, dreary affair for the Rapids, maybe their worst of the season. They gave away the ball far too often and too easily, and Portland attackers ran free time and time again with the many opportunities the Rapids handed them. Portland outshot Colorado 13-6 in the half, with four shots on target versus none for Colorado.
The Rapids did play Wednesday night, losing 1-0 at Seattle, and looked like a mentally and physically fatigued team. That was no excuse, though. Portland also played Wednesday night, beating D.C. United 1-0 at home.
“The game of soccer is a parallel to life. It’s confidence and it’s momentum,” said Rapids coach Pablo Mastroeni. “First couple sequences weren’t sharp. (Portland’s) first couple sequences were sharp. They gained confidence, and as their confidence grew they were able to be dangerous with possession.
“We were late to second balls; we didn’t really battle real good for first balls.
“I take full responsibility for that performance. It’s been a tough week for us. I felt like we were prepared. Apparently we weren’t. Our start was slow. Second half, once again we did a tremendous job competing.”
Portland was brighter, quicker and more creative. Midfielder Darlington Nagbe was a menace taking advantage of space, and it seemed only a matter of time before Portland scored. That finally came in the 38th minute when forward Gaston Fernandez got free on the right side of the Rapids’ shaky defense and buried a shot from close range for the 1-0 lead.
Mastroeni made an obvious move after intermission, substituting Dillon Powers for Vicente Sanchez. Powers has been one of the team’s best players this season and Sanchez seemed out of sorts.
There was a good scoring chance in the 85th minute when Cronin found an opening 8 yards from the goal, but his shot was blocked. Desperate for a goal, Mastroeni put center back Axel Sjoberg into a forward slot in the waning moments.
The Rapids left the field stunned, having nearly stolen the game only to have it ripped away from them again.
“After the effort they put forth, to come back into that game, and to lose it there at the death, I’m speechless as far as my feelings for those guys that really put life and limb on the line to get back into that game,” Mastroeni said.
John Meyer: jmeyer@denverpost.com or
