Game Recap: Colorado Rapids 2, LA Galaxy 2

The Colorado Rapids held steady in the first half with a strong defensive effort and a massive save on the goal line from Tim Howard. Colorado maintained possession and really connected on passes. In the second half, LA’s Ashley Cole got a goal a few minutes in to put the Galaxy up 1-0. After battling back and forth for 15 more minutes, Edgar Castillo blasted a goal past LA keeper David Bingham to tie it up 1-1. Sebastian Lletget gave LA the lead then Niki Jackson got another one for the Burgundy Boys. After an exciting second half, the ‘Pids effort was rewarded with a point on the road.

FIRST HALF

The first half had a few moments of excitement, but was mostly either the Rapids possessing the ball (59.3%) or defending against the LA attack. In the 16th minute, Ashley Cole fed the ball back to Ola Kamara who put it in the back of the net, but Cole was very much offside and it was called back immediately.

The Rapids’ had a couple solid chances in the first half. In the 23rd minute, Dillon Serna had control of the ball in the box but took a couple touches too many. Colorado earned a corner, but it was easily cleared by LA. Castillo also made a run and was in on goal but got tangled up and fell near the goal line. There was no foul called.

The back line worked together well to keep Zlatan Ibrahimovic relatively quiet and Howard came up big yet again with a very close save on the goal line to keep it 0-0 at the half.

SECOND HALF

There were no subs to start the second half, but Niki Jackson was warming up with his jersey on during halftime. But when Kellyn Acosta threw up on the sideline about five minutes in, Nana Boateng subbed in.

The second half was looking very much like the first, until Cole turned Ford, split Ford and Danny Wilson, and ran in on Howard. Cole sent it over Howard’s head to put LA up 1-0 in the 59th minute.

Jackson subbed in for Sam Nicholson a couple minutes after the Galaxy goal.

Things started to fall apart and look a little sloppy for the Rapids after going down a goal, including some needless fouls that gave LA more chances than they should have had.

After the Galaxy cleared a header in the 73rd minute, Castillo collected the ball, dribbled in, and blasted it past Bingham to tie it up 1-1.

LA responded quickly and Lletget scored in the 78th minute. 2-1 Galaxy.

AND THEN the Rapids came back! Castillo passed a ball into Jackson, who took a few dribbles and went upper 90, much like Castillo had just done. It. Was. Beautiful.

There were four minutes of stoppage time tacked on to the end of this one, and at the final whistle, it was 2-2 and the Rapids got themselves a well-deserved point on the road.