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Cummings Leads Way In Colorado's Win Over D.C. United
Powered by two goals and an assist from striker Omar Cummings, the Colorado Rapids extended their unbeaten streak to seven games with a 3-0 win over D.C. United at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
Jun 21, 2009 2:34:56 AM
United, who drew with Seattle on Wednesday night, made several changes to their lineup, and also switched to a 4-4-2 formation, as opposed to their usual 3-5-2 setup. With Fred, Luciano Emilio, and Jamie Moreno out with injuries, D.C. United head coach Tom Soehn brought in defender Greg Janicki and Avery John, with Christian Gomez also getting the nod. In addition, United welcomed back Ben Olsen to the lineup, as he returned from a long layoff due to injury.
Colorado, playing their first game in two weeks, also made some changes, as Pablo Mastroeni returned from international duty, and recent acquisition Pat Noonan stepped into a starting role immediately.
First Half
The first ten minutes of the game began with a slow pace, as neither team was overly eager to push forward and take the early risks. Both sides were content sitting back, trying to get a feel for the game, and the game lacked any shots for the first ten minutes.
Colorado had the first chance of the match in the 11th minute, and took the lead through Omar Cummings' fourth goal of the season. Mastroeni played a ball up to Cummings, who was able to turn Janicki, and make his way towards the goal. Janicki's last ditch tackle attempt failed to dispossess Cummings, and the Jamaican striker was all alone in the box, with just 'keeper Josh Wicks to beat. Cummings opened up his stance, and curled a shot around Wicks, giving Colorado an early 1-0 lead.
Proceedings began to slow down again, but United created the next chance, in the 18th minute. Santino Quaranta picked up the ball on the right hand side and then moved into the box before releasing a shot that Colorado 'keeper Matt Pickens parried out for a corner. The corner did not amount to any real danger, and one of the few chances for United in the first half was quickly gone.
Colorado came close to doubling their lead twice in the 30th minute. Jacob Peterson took a corner for Colorado, and sent it to the far post. Wicks tried to catch the ball, but came no where near it. Defender Ugo Ihemelu volleyed the ball, only for it to crash up against the post. The rebound fell out to Mastroeni outside of the box, but his long range effort was pushed up onto the crossbar by Wicks, and the ensuing danger was eventually cleared out.
In the final moments of the first half, United almost found a way back into the game out of nothing, but were denied by the woodwork. Chris Pontius won a free kick for United in a dangerous area, thirty yards out from goal. Gomez took the kick, and send an inviting ball to the back post. Pontius got to the cross, but his header smashed the woodwork, and Colorado were able to clear the danger.
Just when the game looked to be heading to halftime with Colorado up by one, a terrible mistake from United gifted Cummings and Colorado a second goal in the 45th minute. Miscommunication by United on an Avery John backpass allowed Cummings to pick up the ball behind the United defense. He rounded Wicks inside the box, before finishing at a tight angle to give Colorado a commanding 2-0 lead going into halftime.
Second Half
Following the start of the second half, it only took several minutes for Colorado to score once again, as Colin Clark added a third for the Rapids in the 49th minute. Miscommunication again between United defenders on a throw-in gifted Cummings the ball deep in United territory. Cummings was able to get around defender Dejan Jakovic before entering the box and sending a pass to the back post for Clark. Wicks got his hands on Clark's attempt, but the shot was just too powerful to stop, and the ball eventually fell inside the net. Colorado was up 3-0 in a blink of the eye.
From there, the game became too difficult for United, as Colorado was willing to just sit back and absorb the pressure before taking a chance on the occasional counter attack.
Ponitus had another chance for United in the 54th minute, as he got his head on a Quaranta cross, but Pickens was able to make the acrobatic save and deny D.C. a chance to get back into the game.
The game began to slow down, as Colorado was able to frustrate D.C. by sitting back and denying United any passing lanes. United failed to create another viable chance in the game, as they lacked the necessary energy and creative ideas to break down a solid Colorado side.
Instead of being able to create any chances, United seemed to be at the mercy of Cummings and the several chances that Colorado were able to create on the counter attack. In the 76th minute, Cummings had a shot that sizzled just wide of Wicks' far post, after a well executed counter attack from the Rapids.
Substitutes Mehdi Ballouchy and Kosuke Kimura had chances as well in the 84th and 88th minutes respectively. But Ballouchy's shot was deflected just wide of the post, and Kimura's chance from the corner of the box bounced just wide of the far post.
Otherwise, the game lacked any more real chances, as Colorado was able to effectively run down the time and deny United a goal, in a well deserved 3-0 victory, that extended the Rapids' unbeaten streak to seven games.
Steven Streff, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer visit Goal.com's MLS page.
Colorado, playing their first game in two weeks, also made some changes, as Pablo Mastroeni returned from international duty, and recent acquisition Pat Noonan stepped into a starting role immediately.
First Half
The first ten minutes of the game began with a slow pace, as neither team was overly eager to push forward and take the early risks. Both sides were content sitting back, trying to get a feel for the game, and the game lacked any shots for the first ten minutes.
Colorado had the first chance of the match in the 11th minute, and took the lead through Omar Cummings' fourth goal of the season. Mastroeni played a ball up to Cummings, who was able to turn Janicki, and make his way towards the goal. Janicki's last ditch tackle attempt failed to dispossess Cummings, and the Jamaican striker was all alone in the box, with just 'keeper Josh Wicks to beat. Cummings opened up his stance, and curled a shot around Wicks, giving Colorado an early 1-0 lead.
Proceedings began to slow down again, but United created the next chance, in the 18th minute. Santino Quaranta picked up the ball on the right hand side and then moved into the box before releasing a shot that Colorado 'keeper Matt Pickens parried out for a corner. The corner did not amount to any real danger, and one of the few chances for United in the first half was quickly gone.
Colorado came close to doubling their lead twice in the 30th minute. Jacob Peterson took a corner for Colorado, and sent it to the far post. Wicks tried to catch the ball, but came no where near it. Defender Ugo Ihemelu volleyed the ball, only for it to crash up against the post. The rebound fell out to Mastroeni outside of the box, but his long range effort was pushed up onto the crossbar by Wicks, and the ensuing danger was eventually cleared out.
In the final moments of the first half, United almost found a way back into the game out of nothing, but were denied by the woodwork. Chris Pontius won a free kick for United in a dangerous area, thirty yards out from goal. Gomez took the kick, and send an inviting ball to the back post. Pontius got to the cross, but his header smashed the woodwork, and Colorado were able to clear the danger.
Just when the game looked to be heading to halftime with Colorado up by one, a terrible mistake from United gifted Cummings and Colorado a second goal in the 45th minute. Miscommunication by United on an Avery John backpass allowed Cummings to pick up the ball behind the United defense. He rounded Wicks inside the box, before finishing at a tight angle to give Colorado a commanding 2-0 lead going into halftime.
Second Half
Following the start of the second half, it only took several minutes for Colorado to score once again, as Colin Clark added a third for the Rapids in the 49th minute. Miscommunication again between United defenders on a throw-in gifted Cummings the ball deep in United territory. Cummings was able to get around defender Dejan Jakovic before entering the box and sending a pass to the back post for Clark. Wicks got his hands on Clark's attempt, but the shot was just too powerful to stop, and the ball eventually fell inside the net. Colorado was up 3-0 in a blink of the eye.
From there, the game became too difficult for United, as Colorado was willing to just sit back and absorb the pressure before taking a chance on the occasional counter attack.
Ponitus had another chance for United in the 54th minute, as he got his head on a Quaranta cross, but Pickens was able to make the acrobatic save and deny D.C. a chance to get back into the game.
The game began to slow down, as Colorado was able to frustrate D.C. by sitting back and denying United any passing lanes. United failed to create another viable chance in the game, as they lacked the necessary energy and creative ideas to break down a solid Colorado side.
Instead of being able to create any chances, United seemed to be at the mercy of Cummings and the several chances that Colorado were able to create on the counter attack. In the 76th minute, Cummings had a shot that sizzled just wide of Wicks' far post, after a well executed counter attack from the Rapids.
Substitutes Mehdi Ballouchy and Kosuke Kimura had chances as well in the 84th and 88th minutes respectively. But Ballouchy's shot was deflected just wide of the post, and Kimura's chance from the corner of the box bounced just wide of the far post.
Otherwise, the game lacked any more real chances, as Colorado was able to effectively run down the time and deny United a goal, in a well deserved 3-0 victory, that extended the Rapids' unbeaten streak to seven games.
Steven Streff, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer visit Goal.com's MLS page.
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