One game, 100 words (or less): Chivas USA is back to its old self. Five days after seeing its unbeaten run snapped in Washington, D.C., Wilmer Cabrera’s team gave up first half goals to Nick LaBrocca and Drew Moor, sending the teams to intermission with the match seemingly decided. In the second half, Chivas never game fans a reason to think they had two goals in them. After a late score from Gabriel Torres, the Rapids had a 3-0 win, handing their guests a second straight loss.
Goals:
Colorado: LaBrocca 16', Moor 26', Torres 74'
Chivas USA: None
Three moments that mattered
16' - LaBrocca with the fadeaway - You don’t often see a player moving away from goal, outside the penalty area, put his name on the scoresheet, yet after 12 months without a goal, that’s exactly what LaBrocca did. In possession in the right of Dan Kennedy’s penalty area, LaBrocca dribbled into space just outside the box. Still moving away from goal, the former Chivas midfielder lofted a hopeful shot to the far post. Finding the far side-netting, LaBrocca converted a rare fadeaway goal, giving the Rapids their early lead.
26' - Moor powers it home - Andrew Jean-Baptiste, getting a rare start, seemed freed up defending set pieces, allowed to go anywhere he leaping ability would be most effective. On a mid-first half corner, that ability came up just short, rising just underneath a Dillon Powers corner from the left side. Behind him, Moor leapt into a header that beat Kennedy, giving Colorado the multi-goal lead that seemed to end Chivas’s night.
74 - Torres breaks through - Gabriel Torres was the first Designated Player in franchise history, but in his first year under Pablo Mastroeni, the Panama international has had trouble winning playing time. In Friday’s 74th minute, Torres made good on a rare start, dipping a 19-yard shot over Kennedy and in for his first goal of the season.
Lineups
Colorado: Clint Irwin; Chris Klute, Marvell Wynne, Drew Moor, Marc Burch; Nick LaBrocca, Jared Watts (Marlon Hairston 42'), Dillon Powers, Dillon Serna; Vicente Sánchez (Carlos Alvarez 70'), Gabriel Torres (Edson Buddle 76')
Chivas USA: Dan Kennedy, Akira Kaji, Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Eriq Zavaleta, Donny Toja; Marco Delgado, Austín Pelletieri, Nathan Sturgis, Eric Avila (Ryan Finley 64'); Leandro Barrera, Eric Torres
Three lessons going forward:
1. Eric Torres is mortal - For the first time in six games, Cubo didn’t get on the scoresheet. In fact, the entire Chivas team only managed one shot on target, another sign the team’s summer surge is over.
2. Chivas USA is back - 16-4 in total shots, 7-1 in shots on target. Colorado dominated this game, with the final hour playing out with a depressing inevitability. Once Colorado went up two, the game felt over.
3. Don’t underestimate Colorado’s performance - A three-goal win over Chivas makes it easy to overlook what Colorado did, but a series of other teams haven’t been able to take care of business against the Goats. And this summer, a series of other teams ended up dropped points to Chivas. Tonight, Colorado put their guests away early. They deserve credit for it.
Where this leaves them:
- The win vaults Colorado into third in the West, having entered the night two spots lower in the standings.
- The loss keeps Chivas USA eight in the West, three points ahead of San Jose.