COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – It was a short stay in the Western Conference cellar for the Colorado Rapids.
After dropping down to last place for the first time all season on Friday night, the Rapids moved out of the basement with a convincing 3-0 win over the Portland Timbers at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Wednesday night, riding goals from Andre Akpan, Tony Cascio and Jaime Castrillon to collect all three points.
The Timbers returned to last place in the West and saw their two-game win streak come to a close as well, while the Rapids won for the first time since a 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake on August 4, snapping a four-game winless streak and keeping their slim playoff hopes alive.
It didn’t take long for the action to get going on a mild evening in suburban Denver. Tyrone Marshall’s first minute long ball found a streaking Cascio, who fired off the goalpost just 50 seconds after the opening whistle. But less than five minutes later, the Rapids got on the scoreboard.
Right back Drew Moor’s cross into the box was met by Cascio, who deflected it right into the path of Akpan. The third-year forward easily fired home for his first MLS goal of the season and the second of his career.
After Moor’s 21st minute header was spectacularly saved by Timbers ‘keeper Donovan Ricketts, the Rapids doubled their advantage just a few minutes later. While breaking on a counter-attack, Rapids Castrillon crossed for Cascio, whose sliding shot was initially saved by Ricketts, but after Cascio regained his footing, the rookie fired home for his third goal of the season.
The Rapids closed ranks in the second half, daring Portland to beat them for distance or on the break.
One of the few times it looked like the Timbers might strike paydirt, ‘keeper Matt Pickens was there to snuff it out. The veteran came off his line quickly in the 75th minute to deny Diego Chara on a breakaway, getting a toe to the shot to keep the zero on the board.
Colorado sealed the game on Castrillon’s 86th minute close-range header, which went between Ricketts’ legs for the Colombian’s team-leading seventh goal of the season.
The Rapids will enjoy a nine-day break before battling the surging Galaxy in LA next Friday night (8 pm PT, MLS Live), while the Timbers will also enjoy an extended break before hosting Cascadia Cup rivals Seattle on Saturday, Sept. 15 at JELD-WEN Field (12:30 pm PT, NBC).
Portland Timbers (7-14-6, 27pts) at Colorado Rapids (9-17-2, 29pts)
Sept. 5, 2012 – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Timbers 0 0 0
Colorado Rapids 2 1 3
Scoring Summary
COL: Akpan (Cascio, Moor), 6
COL: Cascio (Castrillón), 27
COL: Castrillón (Moor, Hill), 86
Misconduct Summary
COL: Zapata (Caution), 14
POR: Chara (Caution), 42
COL: Thomas (Caution), 46
POR: Smith (Caution), 74
POR: Jewsbury (Caution), 83
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Ricketts, D Kimura, D Mosquera, D Horst, D Smith, M Nagbe, M Jewsbury ©, M Chara, F Zizzo (Mwanga, 77), F Dike (Boyd, 67), F Songo’o (Fucito, 82)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Bendik, D Brunner, D Kawulok, M Alexander
TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Dike, Zizzo, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (Chara, 1); FOULS: 14 (Horst, Jewsbury, 3) OFFSIDES: 7; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 3
COL: GK Pickens, D Moor ©, D Wynne, D Marshall, D Zapata, M Thomas, M Larentowicz (O’Neill, 86), M Castrillón, M Cascio (Mullan, 81), M Rivero (Hill, 73), F Akpan
Substitutes Not Used: GK Ceus, D Wahl, M Smith, F Casey
TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Cascio, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Cascio, 2); FOULS: 12 (Akpan, Castrillón, Rivero, Zapata, 2) OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 1
Referee: Juan Guzman
Assistant Referees: Adam Wienckowski, Corey Parker
4th Official: Mark Declouet
Attendance: 13,086
Time of Game: 1:53
Weather: Sunny
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
