June 2, 2008 4:28 PM
For game and player, a sigh of relief
When FC Dallas' Marcelo Saragosa recklessly chopped the ankle of Rapids striker Tom McManus in the 91st minute on Sunday, it looked like disaster had struck.
Well after play had stopped and well after Saragosa had been shown the yellow card, the promising Scottish forward continued to roll on the ground in pain. The Rapids' bench had been motioned to send trainers onto the field.
McManus held out a flattened palm and angled it in a way that seemed to indicate he had rolled awkwardly on his foot or ankle.
At this point, it didn't look good.
McManus' goal in the 72nd minute would prove to be the winner during Sunday's 2-1 result. But at what cost?
Here lay a striker who, only minutes earlier, was daring the imaginations of fans (and teammates? coaches?) with how high he might soar.
He showed in his first game with the Rapids he has shooting range. He has scored at home and on the road. He showed last week he was capable of a highlight-reel goal. He has speed. His first touch is well above the MLS average. He can come through in the clutch.
And as he rocked back and forth on the pitch, seemingly in agony, my thoughts turned to the chance that he might not get the chance to show Coloradans all he is capable of.
But McManus limped off the field and returned shortly. His pained display on the turf was no fakery; he received treatment long after Saragosa had been booked and was not likely to earn any more punishment for the FC Dallas player.
This was tragedy averted, a second chance afforded by the soccer gods to a striker who has better days ahead and to supporters who are eager to see them.
Whew.
SLOPPY DEFENDING ALMOST SPOILS GAME: How frustrating was that goal by Dallas just before the half? The Rapids had insisted that they were the more creative, more aggressive, more deserving team for the first 43 minutes on Sunday. Then some lackluster clearing attempts almost ruined it all. The Hoops had only two shots in the game, and they scored on one of them. The Rapids probably had close to 10 scoring chances in the game but need McManus' magic late in the second to rescue them. If this team can improve its finishing just slightly and reduce its mistakes, again, just slightly, it could put some distance between itself and the Western Conference pack.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Christian Gomez was a wizard with the ball at his feet. I don't want to try to describe some of his moves on Sunday. And all the cliches apply: The ball seemed like it was on a string. He cut through the defense like a hot knife through butter. He was thinking two steps ahead. All true. His assist on Conor Casey's opening goal set the tone for the offense. And when he got the ball in open space, the crowd began to buzz.
WORLD-CLASS CUTBACK: Most players would've shot the first chance they got, and the ball just would've been blocked. But Casey showed his experience by waiting, faking the defender out, cutting the ball back and burying it in the lower corner. And, it's another Rapids goal up for goal of the week. Vote here. And check out that crazy assist by Gomez! A fella could get used to all this top-notch offense.
AND SPEAKING OF THE CROWD ... Where was it? The official attendance was 12,120, but there weren't that many people in the seats during the matinee. And the previous day game, a 2-0 victory over D.C. in United's only fixture at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, was slightly better: an announced attendance of 13,115. And the weather was spectacular Sunday afternoon. Maybe, for active Coloradans, that was part of the problem. Do Rapids fans simply prefer night games?
MULLET ALERT! Did Dallas substitute Brek Shea lose a bet with that haircut? Sheesh.
SUPER COOPER: There's been some discussion on FC Rocky about Kenny Cooper's prospects with the national team, and our reader "Mike" has offered some good ideas about Bob Bradley not wanting to disrupt the MLS clubs during league play. But Cooper was in fine form on Sunday. He's big, strong, fast, skilled, aggressive, and the whole package was on display. He was frightening while possessing the ball on a couple of forays into the box in the second half. Rapids did a good job using the speed on their back line in denying him better opportunities.
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