The Colorado Rapids don’t give up.
Trailing 2-1 in the 95th minute, the 10-man Rapids scrapped back for an improbable late equalizer to overcome a questionable second-half red card and salvage a road point on a headed goal by 6-foot-7 center back Axel Sjoberg.
FT: You can't count out these :
— Major League Soccer (@MLS)
The 2-2 draw at BC Place in Vancouver extended the Rapids’ league unbeaten streak to a franchise-best 13 games and pushed their record to 9-2-7. With 34 points, Colorado is three points back of Supporters’ Shield-leading FC Dallas, with two games in hand.
“It just keeps our confidence going, unbeaten in 13 games now,” Rapids striker Kevin Doyle said. “To keep that going, in the 95th minute down a man to get a goal; itap only a point, but psychologically it feels like a win. We played well tonight, the least we deserved was a point if not a win.”
The match got off on the wrong note for Colorado. Vancouver jumped out to an early lead in the 10th minute when Whitecaps midfielder Christian Bolaños shook Rapids midfielder Dillon Powers near the right sideline, then played in a cross near the six-yard-box. Vancouver center back Kendall Waston headed it past goalkeeper Tim Howard, the first goal the U.S. international has surrendered for Colorado.
Waston nods in front.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS)
It was only the second time all season Colorado had allowed a goal inside the first 15 minutes of a game, and only the third first-half goal conceded by the Rapids this year.
The Rapids trailed at the intermission for just the third time this season, but all the first-half stats pointed to Colorado. Colorado had twice as much possession (67-33 percent) and completed more than twice as many passes. The Rapids out-shot Vancouver 10-4 in the first half and put more than twice as many on target (5-2).
Colorado clawed back after the break, knotting the score at 1-1 in the 59th minute. Rapids winger Shkëlzen Gashi played a diagonal ball to Doyle, who made a smart run in behind the defense. Doyle slotted it past goalkeeper David Ousted for his team-leading fourth goal of the year.
Gashi passes (and what a pass). Doyle finishes.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS)
It seemed like the Rapids were tightening the vise, looking for the winner, but referee Allen Chapman made a game-changing call in the 71st minute, showing a straight red card to Colorado fullback Eric Miller. Replays showed Miller slid in low on Vancouver’s Pedro Morales with one foot.
“The red (card) obviously changes the game,” Rapids coach Pablo Mastroeni said. “Then at that point, momentum shifts, they have a good run of play. Overall, a draw might be a fair result.”
Colorado brought in fullback Marc Burch for winger Marco Pappa and went to a 4-4-1 in hopes of seeing out the draw, but Vancouver clearly took the upper hand in the minutes that followed.
The Rapids got a game-saving kick-save off the line by Howard in the 76th minute to preserve the 1-1 tie. It was the best of his four saves.
TIMMY!!!
— Major League Soccer (@MLS)
In the 86th minute, Rapids defender Jared Watts put his hand on the shoulder of Vancouver’s Cristian Techera as he went down in the box. Chapman pointed to the spot.
Howard guessed right on the ensuing penalty kick, but Techera put it just out of his reach to give Vancouver the 2-1 lead. It was only the second time Colorado had allowed more than one goal in a game this season.
“He had a couple of big saves,” Doyle said of Howard. “Itap great for the lads, especially at the back for the back four, back six to hear him talk and organize and have his ideas. He brings the experience and he’s still in top, top shape making saves like he did tonight. He nearly saved the penalty as well.”
Eight minutes later, Doyle dribbled into the left corner of a penalty area and delivered a perfect cross to Sjöberg at the far post. The big Swede headed it back across goal and into the far corner.
“Axel Sjoberg is one of the most underrated center backs in the league,” Mastroeni said. “With every game he gains more and more confidence.”
Mastroeni, who moments earlier had been yelling at the match officials, celebrated enthusiastically.
All three times Colorado has trailed at halftime this year, they’ve managed to fight back for a draw.
Despite going down a man for the final 24 minutes, Colorado controlled 60 percent of possession during the match and completed 530 passes to Vancouver’s 356. The Rapids out-shot Vancouver 17-13 and put more shots on target (9-6).
“It just shows that we have a very clear identity of how we want to play,” Rapids captain Sam Cronin said. “Guys understand their roles and know their roles. We’re a cohesive unit and we’re playing well as a team right now.”
U.S. international Jermaine Jones, who was in the original starting lineup, was a late scratch replaced by Powers. He sat on the bench and did not appear to be available as a sub. The reason for his late scratch was not immediately known.
Colorado will try to extend their league unbeaten streak to 14 on Saturday when they Sporting Kansas City at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park at 7 p.m.
“We’re toward the top of the league because we play well,” Cronin said. “We’re a hard team and we’ve got good quality throughout the team. We’ve just got to keep fighting.”
https://twitter.com/JaredWatts02/status/752002912767709186
https://twitter.com/KevinDoyle1983/status/752001791282163712
Love this team man. To go down twice and come back to get a result on the road a man down is unbelievable!!
— Marlon Hairston (@MARLYG94)
