COMMERCE CITY — The mathematics of the situation may seem daunting. In order for the Rapids to advance in the playoffs they have to outscore the by two goals in regulation time here Sunday or win by one and take their chances in overtime.
Rapids coach likes their scenario, though. His team gave up only seven goals in 17 home games this season. And, if the Rapids are one goal ahead after regulation and the game goes to 30 minutes of overtime (no sudden death), an altitude factor that already figures to be troublesome for a visiting team with aging stars will be magnified.
“It actually plays right into our hands as we’ve played all year long, which is scoring late in the game, bringing the altitude into the game — because you’re wearing them down and being really organized — and catching them sleeping,” Mastroeni said. “But the one thing we can’t afford to do is concede a goal.”
Away goals are the tiebreaker in scenarios when the combined score of both games is tied. Colorado lost 1-0 at Los Angeles last Sunday, which means if the Rapids win 2-1 Sunday, for example, Los Angeles would advance on the away-goal rule. That doesn’t mean the Rapids will be unusually aggressive in the attack to secure a two-goal lead, though.
“Losing only 1-0 in L.A. was a very good score for us, given what we’ve done over the course of 34 games in the regular season,” Mastroeni said. “Obviously we want to impose ourselves on the game, but coming out guns blazing comes with its risks. Itap 95 minutes of full concentration. What we want is history to repeat itself, essentially. We will have our chances to score goals, and the altitude will be a huge factor.”
The pressure will be on Colorado attackers to make the most of the scoring chances they get.
“If itap nil-nil at halftime, even at 60 minutes, we won’t be panicking because a lot of our best stuff comes in the last half hour, especially at home,” said forward Kevin Doyle. “We just need to get the one goal to get to extra time, but not be sucker-punched, not to be sucked in the first half to going all out trying to get that goal back. If they score, we have to get three. We just need to be patient, to play like we have played at home.”
The Rapids were unbeaten at home this season, so they are determined to be patient.
“You obviously don’t want to go gung-ho from the first minute because if they score, itap curtains,” Doyle said. “Itap to be slightly cagey but to be attacking without leaving yourself wide open that you’re giving them breakaway after breakaway.”
