Rapid Response: Colorado Rapids defeat Sporting Kansas City 2-1

Turnovers and disjointed passing characterized play uglier than the original Kansas City Wiz kits for Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday night. They granted the Colorado Rapids the chances the away side needed to score and, combined with strong defense from the Rapids, were unable to break down Colorado in a 2-1 loss.

The first half showed some ugly soccer for Sporting KC. They turned the ball over numerous times and were not able to get consistent ball movement, leading to many attacks dying down. The spine of the offense was weak as Benny Feilhaber and Dom Dwyer both started the game on the bench in favor of Jordi Quintilla and Diego Rubio respectively, while Lawrence Olum shakily filled in for Soni Mustivar for the second match in a row.

It wasn't until the 41st minute, however, that the Rapids took advantage of the poor play from Sporting KC in the first half. Olum had a dreadful giveaway after holding on to the ball for too long. The ball was taken by Marco Pappa, who threaded the needle on a through ball to Luis Solignac. Solignac beat Tim Melia near post for the score, and gave the Rapids a 1-0 lead. They would carry that score into halftime.

The second half was much better for Sporting KC. Bolstered by Benny Feilhaber being subbed in at the half and Dom Dwyer coming into the match in the 57th minute, Sporting were applying more pressure and were rewarded for it in the 77th minute. This came after they finally got their first shot on goal and had a couple of close calls, including Rubio banging the ball off the crossbar on a nearpost shot.

Connor Hallisey sent in a cross that found the head of Dwyer, and he nodded it toward goal for the score. His fourth goal of the year brought Sporting KC level and it looked like Sporting might be primed for another.

That feeling did not last long, however. Coming back on a counter, Dillon Serna blasted a ball from 35 yards out that clanged off the crossbar but bounced right back to Shkelzen Gashi, who calmly put it home past a still-recovering Melia for the lead. It was his first MLS goal ever.

Sporting came close to equalizing again a few minutes later, when Brad Davis took a side volley from a tough angle, but he smashed it off the crossbar in another series of unfortunate events for the home side, and Sporting KC were still left with the deficit.

This would be the last chance for Sporting as they fell 2-1 at home to the Rapids. This was their second loss in a row at home and brought them to 4-2-0 on the year. Next, they travel to FC Dallas for a Fox Soccer 1 game Sunday at 6.