Colorado Rapids beat Los Angeles 1:0 in the MLS Regular Season on August 20th at Dick Sporting Goods Park. It was the 20th round of the league, and the hosts took all three points from a match where chances were scarce. By then the visitors had already made their move, looking for an equaliser that never came. The result keeps Colorado in seventh place while Los Angeles remain third in the table.
The decisive moment arrived in the twenty-second minute. An own goal from Los Angeles striker J. Ebobisse gave Colorado the lead. Rafael Navarro had a penalty chance in the forty-second minute but missed, and that was the closest the visitors would get to a goal. After the break the game opened up a little, with both sides bringing on fresh legs. Los Angeles turned to the kids, making three changes in quick succession.
There was plenty of friction to pass the time. Seven yellow cards were shown: Y. Cheberko, Y. Maziz, E. Segura, Nkosi Tafari, D. Yapi, K. Thompson, and one unnamed player. The match was never going to be a spectacle of flowing football. It was a grind, played in the heat, where every tackle mattered more than a pretty pass.
Colorado had the edge in possession at 51 per cent and created far more chances. Their expected goals total of 2.21 contrasted sharply with Los Angeles's 0.41. The hosts registered 22 shots, of which four were on target, while the visitors managed five shots with two on target. Many shots with one goal means chances went begging, and that was the story of the afternoon.
The win extends Colorado's recent form, adding to victories against Sporting Kansas City and Austin. Los Angeles, meanwhile, suffered another setback after their draw with Querétaro and loss to San Diego. The scoreline doesn't tell the whole story, but the points are what matter. Colorado rescue a point in the standings, and Los Angeles find no answer to a side that refused to let the tie slip.