Colorado Rapids 1 Real Espana 2 - Colorado drops final Champions League home match
by Richard Terry on Sep 22, 2011 1:22 AM MDT
in Colorado Rapids CONCACAF Champions League Updates
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On a wet evening at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, the Colorado Rapids were on the wrong end of a 2-1 defeat to Real España. The visitors benefited from costly errors in Colorado's defense that led to a first-half Carlos Pavón brace. Andre Akpan found himself tally his second Champions League goal, but it was not enough as Colorado faces an uphill battle to qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals.
Colorado (1-2-1) suffered their second straight defeat in the CCL, and their fifth straight defeat in all competitions. Real España (1-2-1) moved ahead of Colorado in Group B on goal differential as both clubs have four points from four matches. Group B leaders Santos Laguna and Isidro Metapán will play in Torreon, Mexico, on Thursday evening.
Gary Smith fielded a side with many reserves as the Colorado manager wanted to save many starters for the San Jose home fixture on Saturday evening at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Stewart Ceus made his third consecutive CCL start as Matt Pickens was not even listed on the substitutes bench. Kosuke Kimura started in defense and was joined by Michael Holody, Tyrone Marshall, and Scott Palguta.
Brian Mullan and Wells Thompson handled the wings, while Joseph Nane and Ross Labauex started together in central midfield. Mac Kandji and Andre Akpan started together in attack.
Carlos Pavón opened the scoring in the 12th minute as the Rapids defenders failed to clear the ball properly and were caught ball-watching. The visiting Real España supporters were delighted at the quick lead.
Andre Akpan pulled one back for the home side in the 18th minute. Kandji provided the assist from the right wing, and Akpan made no mistake as the second-year forward buried his shot from inside the penalty area. It was Akpan's second Champions League goal this season.
Pavón doubled his tally courtesy of a Michael Holody error that allowed the Honduran legend to calmly put the ball past Ceus for a two-goal cushion. Holody misjudged the header and inadvertently placed the ball right to an oncoming Carlos Pavón for the breakaway goal.
The Rapids could feel unlucky as they hit the woodwork in the first half, and substitute Jamie Smith nearly tied the game late in the second half with a free kick that curled just wide of the post. Sanna Nyassi and Omar Cummings were also second-half substitutes but could not find their scoring touch.
Colorado have two remaining CCL fixtures left in the group stage, with away trips to El Salvador and Mexico on the horizon to face Isidro Metapán and Santos Laguna, respectively. It is likely the Rapids will have to win both of these matches to qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals. Colorado will look to end their losing streak when San Jose Earthquakes come to Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening in MLS league action.
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Here's a not-sarcastic question for my first post:
Why do they bother playing in the CONCACAF Champions League if they don’t really care about it?
I wrote this article before I read/watched the post-match press conference with Gary Smith. He has seen this tournament as a stage to play many reserves to get valuable playing time/experience. It is disrespectful to the fans and Gary Smith has stated that MLS playoffs is the #1 goal. A deep run in the CONCACAF Champions League would have been nice, but the club does not have the depth to play on two fronts (as displayed by our reserves).
GS did play a first-team lineup against Santos Laguna except for a reserve-heavy defense which ultimately led to our demise in the 4-1 loss.
by Richard Terry on Sep 22, 2011 3:49 PM MDT up reply actions
I am really trying to get into the Rapids.
They just seem to make it so hard. This is a fun competition. It’s basically ruined by an unwillingness to find creative ways to try to compete.
MLS is really a minor league. When I think of minor league baseball I think of the extremes that many clubs go to in order to get people into the park. People could stay home and watch the MLB teams on television, so they need to create a product that, even though the quality of play is less than stellar, is attractive, fun, and an enjoyable night out.
It seems like playing against teams from across that contintent that we usually would never see would be an opportunity to draw people to the stadium. Instead, it’s an exhibition game. I can’t say that I understand it. I’m trying to see why I wouldn’t stay home and watch the UEFA CL or La Liga match replays. They’re not really enticing me to get out there.
I think about all of this because I almost bought tickets for these two CCL games, but I couldn’t find anyone to go with. Now I am glad I didn’t since it seems the experiences at both game sat somewhere between dreadful and dreary.
by DumbAndNerdy on Sep 23, 2011 8:13 AM MDT up reply actions
That’s a bullshit comparison because this wasn’t MLS. When it comes to MLB they only play one competition, MLB. This was not MLS, it was CCL. If they were playing in the Open Cup, it wouldn’t be MLS either because non-MLS teams would be competing. If the Rockies were invited to some random ‘World baseball club tourney’ where they were playing a bunch of Japanese clubs or something but threw it by playing a AAA roster, would you argue that MLB is a minor league?
Football is different from other sports in that way, teams can completely throw away competitions because they have to juggle other ones at the same time. (Take the club world cup for instance.) CCL isn’t a minor league competiton, the Rapids just didn’t care.
Honestly, I can see why they did. They have a 0% chance of winning CCL yet a decent chance of winning MLS again, so when they were forced into playing those games they threw them because they didn’t want to tire themselves out. The idea is to get to a trophy and while they still probably won’t win a trophy this way they’ll have a much better shot with a healthy and rested first team.
I couldn’t find anyone to go with.
I always recommend joining a supporters group to newer Rapids fans simply because it will always give you people to go with and plan with.
2011 Colorado Avalanche - Not yet mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
The 2011 Buffalo Bills - Not going 0-16 this year
Burgundy Wave - SBnation's home for the Colorado Rapids
Crystal Palace FC - Oh wait, we're winning games this year? That wasn't on the schedule until 2016!
by UZ on Sep 24, 2011 1:28 AM MDT up reply actions
I think you misunderstand my comparison.
I’m comparing MLS to AAA. It’s like this. If you live in Salt Lake City and love baseball, you can stay home almost every night and watch the Rockies play. There’s also a national game on television just about every night of the night.
If you choose, you can also go out to support the Salt Lake Bees. The quality of play isn’t as high, but it’s the team in your town. It’s your chance to see the sport that you love in person. This might be enough to get you out for a night or two per year, but in the end, your probably going to watch more Rockies games throughout the year because that’s the top-level of play. You probably have a Rockies cap before a Bees cap. You read every detail about the Rockies you can find online, while popping in to check the box score of the Bees every now and then.
AAA and other minor league clubs combat against this disinterest by typically providing a great experience. From what I’ve read on this blog, including a recent post about the Santos Laguna game, the Rapids seem to be failing to do this. There seems to be an adversarial relationship between the deepest core of the fan base and the club, and in some ways, those fans with other fans.
As a person who knows soccer very well and follows it on several international levels, I was looking for a way to get into the Rapids. Since I probably have a better knowledge of the Mexican Primera than MLS, I figured that a good introduction to the Rapids might be to watch them compete in an international competition. I considered buying tickets but, as I said, couldn’t find a friend who was interested in going to watch soccer.
Nevertheless, I still followed the results of these games on this blog, as I had followed most of the season. I came here to read that the first game of the two recent CCL games was marred by fan displeasure with their treatment be the team as depicted in a vitriolic post by a seemingly die-hard fan. Then, I read that the Rapids really treated these games as exhibitions, even though none of the marketing really spoke to this effect. This made me feel a bit of a fool to have considered going to these matches in the first place.
I will admit to being ignorant of how the MLS teams treat international competitions, but I would have problems with chalking this up to “all soccer teams throw competitions.” There are different levels of international club competitions. Although Ajax doesn’t stand much of a chance of winning the UEFA CL, they aren’t rolling out the scrubs out there because they’re worried about winning the Eredivisie. The Mexican teams seems pretty interested in competing on the CCL. What about the MLS makes them unwilling to compete in this competition?
One of the fun parts of soccer is that there are multiple competitions. There are rewards for your team even if they don’t win the championship. The rewards for the club are more than just extra matches, but some greater prestige an fan interest. The rewards for the fans are not only more matches, but a chance to see different teams and an opportunity for greater glory. It seems as if the Rapids have taken this opportunity and decided to ignore these things, take the money, and run. I’m not sure how much that endears me to the club.
In the end, I want a reason to go see the Rapids beyond it being soccer in my town. I’m not going to be blown away by the quality of play. But I’d be happy with a great experience. Reading some recent posts here, it makes we wonder on the quality of that experience. This is really the feeling that I am trying to express. Maybe I am off-base with this feeling, but it is, nonetheless, what I am thinking at the moment. This isn’t to say that I am right or wrong, or that others needs to believe what I am saying, but only to express my confusion at how the Rapids seem to do things. I’m not sure it’s fair to categorize this confusion as bullshit. I’m hoping for a little more enlightenment on how the issues that I’ve read on here all work together to make the Rapids worth my interested beyond this blog… which is pretty good by the way.
by DumbAndNerdy on Sep 24, 2011 9:32 AM MDT up reply actions
Thanks for your interaction. I appreciate your posts. One key thing I want to note is that Major League Soccer is not on the FIFA calendar and that is ‘one’ reason as to why MLS clubs do not take the CCL that seriously. The FIFA calendar has leagues run from August-May. Therefore, Champions leagues group stages in respective continental zones are usually played at the beginning of the season and the knockout rounds are during the 2nd part of the season. In MLS it is the reverse…the group stage is at the ‘end’ of an MLS season and the knockout rounds (quarterfinals-finals) are at the ‘beginning’ of a new MLS season. Teams (like the Rapids) don’t have proper depth for midweek and then weekend matches, and coaches like Gary Smith chooses to rest normal starters for these matches – especially given the fact that Colorado has NOT qualified for the MLS postseason yet.
by Richard Terry on Sep 24, 2011 11:18 AM MDT up reply actions
btw thanks for extolling the blog! : ) I think Chris (Uz) does a fantastic job with the site. I was really glad when he asked me to help contribute.
by Richard Terry on Sep 24, 2011 11:20 AM MDT up reply actions
To be fair, they’re kind of forced to; they can’t exactly say ‘No MLS, we don’t want to play in CCL!’ Even still, it’s pretty stupid of them to throw away what may be their only chance in a long time – if not ever – to go into the biggest footballing competition in North America.
Hockey needs to start, like... now.
The 2011 Buffalo Bills - Not going 0-16 this year
Burgundy Wave - SBnation's home for the Colorado Rapids
Crystal Palace FC - Oh wait, we're winning games this year? That wasn't on the schedule until 2016!
by UZ on Sep 22, 2011 7:59 PM MDT up reply actions
I am a diehard Rapids supporter and I grew up going to Rapids game. I used to not really care too much about MLS but that all changed when I experienced a UEFA CL qualifier in eastern europe when I was in Debrecen, Hungary in 2005. I wanted to support my MLS club like those fans did in Hungary. I am also a member of the Bulldog Supporters Group so I know a lot of supporters. I have also traveled to Salt Lake, Toronto (MLS Cup 2010) and Portland with the supporters to root on the Rapids outside of Colorado.
The draw to MLS matches is not that appealing for many people used to European football and there are so many no-name players outside the usual suspects of Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Thierry Henry, and now Robbie Kean (LA has three of these players). MLS is a minor league when compared to other leagues around the world (and maybe the Mexican League) but within the USA it is top-class football.
I am going to write an article soon on some of the main reasons why Gary Smith played many reserves during the CCL. Many fans are disappointed in GS (me included). However, MLS has a low salary cap, and the league is not played during the FIFA calendar so the CCL group stage is during “crunch-time” in the MLS playoff race. There are a lot of factors that are against MLS clubs in this competition at the moment..
If you want to want to ‘get into the Rapids’ I challenge you (if you can) to come to the British Bulldog or Three Lions for an away match. Even though Rapids lost 2 out of their 3 home Champions League games, it was still a blast in the supporters section and we were outside of our usual spot in the terraces. The supporters groups (all of them – BSG, Pid Army, and Class VI) are fantastic and all are growing with new members.
Both you and UZ suggested supporter's groups.
I must admit to finding them a bit daunting. I’ve been to professional and international matches in Central America, South America, and Africa, where I’ve lived. I also went to a few D.C. United matches each year I lived in D.C. I’ve seen the barras bravas do their thing, but I don’t know if I could really get into it in that same way.
Does this make the supporter’s groups a bad choice for me?
by DumbAndNerdy on Sep 24, 2011 9:35 AM MDT up reply actions
Well if it’s not for you, don’t feel pressured. It’s just the quickest and easiest way to get headfirst into Rapids fandom. All three groups in Denver have a different style of support as well, so there’s variety between which one you could join.
2011 Colorado Avalanche - Not yet mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
The 2011 Buffalo Bills - Not going 0-16 this year
Burgundy Wave - SBnation's home for the Colorado Rapids
Crystal Palace FC - Oh wait, we're winning games this year? That wasn't on the schedule until 2016!
by UZ on Sep 24, 2011 5:53 PM MDT up reply actions
I don’t think it necessarily makes the supporters group a bad choice for you. However, I understand what you are saying when you don’t have anyone to go with you to the matches. That is why I suggested coming to the British Bulldog or Three Lions pubs in downtown Denver to watch away matches (those will now be CCL games away at Metapán and Santos Laguna, and final match of the season in Vancouver) to meet people such as my self or Chris and many other fans.
Just because you hang out at the pubs doesn’t mean that you have to feel pressure to join one of the supporters groups. Its also about becoming acquainted with like-minded people who love soccer and fans whose passion is the beautiful game. It sounds like you have had some amazing soccer experiences around the world as well.
The terraces are not the best ‘view’ of the match as they are not raised that high from the pitch. But Dick’s Sporting Goods Park is a fantastic stadium and if you make one game, try to come to the Rocky Mountain Derby – Colorado Rapids vs Real Salt Lake. One of the biggest regional matches in MLS (Max Bretos of ESPN stated during the MLS Cup Final halftime show last November that this was the best rivalry in MLS..).
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