COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Saturday’s 2-0 loss to the New England Revolution continued a run of futility for the Colorado Rapids, who extended their current winless streak to a record-tying 18 league games. The Rapids also saw their scoreless streak stretch to over 600 minutes dating back to last season, as they remain without a goal in their first four games to start off 2015.
“No, we’ve been winless in four games,” Rapids midfielder Sam Cronin responded when asked about the two streaks. “Last season makes no difference whatsoever to all the new players. I’ve been around some teams with some difficult spells like this and you’ve got to talk your way through it and be proud.”
Yet again Colorado outshot their opponent, putting up 17 shots to New England’s nine and leading shots on target by 5-3.
“For the third consecutive week, the opposing team’s goalkeeper will probably have the save of the week and it just seems as if our goal is covered with some kind of saran wrap,” Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni told reporters post game, referring to Revolution goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth's first-half save on Rapids midfielder Dillon Powers.
“It hurts very much today because I think we were the better team today, we created more chances and we pressed,” Rapids midfielder Marcelo Sarvas said. “We had enough chances to tie the game or win the game.”
The result didn’t come without controversy. The Revolution extended their lead to 2-0 following a penalty call awarded to Charlie Davies, who went down in the 54th minute after contact from Jared Watts in the box. Moments later, Colorado’s 22 year-old Designated Player Juan Ramirez went down in New England’s penalty area, but didn't earn the spot kick.
After referee Fotis Bazakos initially pointed to the spot, the call was reversed because the assistant referee had raised his flag for an offside on Gabriel Torres. The debate carried on for minutes afterward and Mastroeni was ultimately ejected from the match for protests. The conversation revolved around this question: Did the penalty kick infraction happen before the offside?
“It isn’t the reason we lost the game, but it was a very important moment,” Mastroeni explained.
“Soccer is a game where momentum is key,” he continued. “These types of decisions change the momentum of the game; change the outcome of games. If you’re going to call a penalty kick then it’s a penalty kick. If someone else says anything else like a linesman or fourth official, then there needs to be some kind of dialogue, because the offsides call came after the penalty kick was given. This is what I got thrown out for: questioning that.”
“It didn’t affect our mentality. It affected the result,” Sarvas said. “For me it was a penalty. If the score was 2-1 at 65 minutes it would’ve broken this curse, and it would’ve changed the game.”
Regardless of whether the call was just or not, Mastroeni will not be on the sideline due to suspension next Friday when Colorado (0-1-3) travels to face FC Dallas, once again seeking their first goal and first win of 2015.
Marco Cummings covers the Colorado Rapids for MLSsoccer.com.
