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MLS Colorado Rapids

Rapids fall 2-0

April 5, 2015 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


Colorado Rapids fell to their first defeat of the 2015 season as they went down 2-0 to New England Revolution at Dicks Sporting Goods Park on Saturday.

A sublime finish from Juan Agudelo divided the teams in the first half and, just after the restart, Lee Nguyen scored from the spot.

Rapids thought they had been awarded a penalty on the hour when Juan Ramirez was brought down. However, referee Fotis Bazakos awarded an offside. Head coach Pablo Mastroeni was then sent from the field for protesting the decision.

The home side piled on the pressure in the closing stages but the Revolution stood firm for the first win in Colorado since 2002.

FIRST HALF

Before the match, Mastroeni had decided to the stick with the side that had ground out a goalless draw at Houston the previous Saturday.

Like last week, Rapids were slow to start and then hit their stride. They built persistent pressure and had territorial advantage but created little of note before the visitors took the lead on 18 minutes.

Rapids gave the ball away on their left and Kelyn Rowe fired a perceptive ball towards Agudelo. The striker's first touch and flicked finish was sublime.

Five minutes before half-time, the same striker headed a corner from Nguyen into the ground and the ball bounced up just inches over the bar.

However, surrounding those chances, the Rapids asked most of the questions. Michael Harrington and Dillon Powers sent over searching crosses without conversion then, just before the halftime whistle, the latter went clear only to be denied by a stunning save from Bobby Shuttleworth.

SECOND HALF

The Rapids seem to be running keepers into form right now as, seven minutes after the restart, Marcelo Sarvas saw a point-blank header tipped over.

Three minutes later, the Revolution would grab a second when Jared Watts nudged over Charlie Davies and Nguyen stroked home the penalty.

When Ramirez was brought down in the area shortly afterwards the home side sensed a lifeline. However, having seemingly indicated a penalty, the referee pulled play back and gave the Revolution an offside on Torres.

Rapids withdrew Cronin for Badji and the striker immediately weaved his way through before hitting theside-netting. Ramirez fired against the upright then Bobby Burling placed a header against the same woodwork.

The home side kept going but the Revolution stuck to their task. They move to a 2-2-1 record, while the Rapids are 0-1-3 for the season.

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