COMMERCE CITY — The Didier Drogba Show came to town Saturday, and the 37-year-old striker continued to make MLS look easy, powering Montreal to a 1-0 win over the Rapids in front of 17,427 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
The former Chelsea FC legend curled a 30-yard free kick over the wall and past Rapids goalkeeper Zac MacMath in the 15th minute — his ninth goal in nine games since joining MLS.
“I try to put the ball where I want, but it’s only practice,” Drogba said. “The more you practice, the more chances you’ve got to score.”
Despite playing 90 minutes in a loss Wednesday, Drogba continued the torrid play that earned him player-of-the-month honors in September, keeping Montreal above the thin red playoff line in the East.
STANDINGS:
“I saw it very late,” said MacMath, who was making his first league start for the Rapids. “It was very low over the wall and swerving at the same time so it was a very difficult free kick.”
The Rapids controlled 65 percent of possession in the match and had their chances: 18 crosses, nine corners and three shots on target.
“To have that much of the game and to take very little out of it — not just tonight but for 90 percent of the year — it is very frustrating,” said Rapids coach Pablo Mastroeni.
BOXSCORE:
With the loss, the Rapids ended their home slate with a 5-7-5 record. Their five wins in 17 tries on home soil were Colorado’s second-fewest in the team’s 20-year history. They won three home games in 2001.
However, Drogba was upstaged in the 33rd minute when an airplane dragging a protest banner began circling the stadium.
“The club is still a wreck,” the banner read. “KSE & Hinchey out.”
It was the second year in a row a mystery plane appeared during the Rapids’ home finale calling for the ouster of the team’s ownership group, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, and president Tim Hinchey.
The Rapids declined to comment on the plane.
MORE:
Though venom reigned above, season-ticket holders in attendance largely pledged support to the club, despite frustration over poor results.
“It’s really kind of a social event for us,” said Mark Mais, a season-ticket holder for four seasons. “So even though the team has not done real well for the last two years, we’re still doing it. I fully intend to do it next year as well.”
Season-ticket holder Amy Sprague said she planned to renew.
“It doesn’t make me happy when we’re not doing very well on the field,” Sprague said. “But we’ll still keep coming.”
Footnotes. The Rapids’ lineup featured nine of 11 players under the age of 30. … Goalkeeper Clint Irwin was held out; he had been the only Rapids player to play every minute of the season.
Daniel Boniface: 303-954-1104, dboniface@denverpost.com or @danielboniface
