Caleb Folan powers Colorado Rapids by a 4-1-win against DC United
The defending champions, the Colorado Rapids, continued their winning streak in the 2011 Major League Soccer with a 4-1 win over the DC United at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Sunday. The Irish striker, Caleb Folan, struck twice to help his team in winning
the third consecutive game of the regular season. However, Santino Quaranta’s strike in the second half for the United was not enough to make any real impact on the game.
The Irishman, who was preferred over Omar Cummings to start the game, has successfully fulfilled the expectations of his manager, Gary Smith. He showed his brilliance in the 38th minute of the first half, when he had his opening MLS goal. The
real skill was on display when he went cutting through the DC’s defenses with a pass from Jeff Larentowicz and dodged the DC’s goal-keeper, Pat Onstad, with a left-footed touch. It was a tight play for each side before Colorado was heading the midway break
with a one goal lead on the score-board.
The match became more interesting in the second half, when Santino had volleyed a ball into the far post on an assist from the defender Chris Korb in the 70th minute. After getting the equaliser, DC looked more energetic on the field with a glimmer
of hope to take a win from thereon. But it was demolished just moments later, when midfielder, Jamie Smith, netted one on an assist from the defender, Andy Wallace, and put his team upfront again with a lead. With this, the momentum just shifted towards the
Rapids and a series of attacks was launched on the DC’s backline.
Folan was able to hit another blow and strengthen the lead with a header on the goal post on a pass from Sanna Nyassi, in the 81st minute. Forward Omar, who could not find a place in the starting lineup, came as a substitution in the second half
when Conor Casey had to quit because of an injury. Despite of this late entry, Omar was quickly in action to show his worth, when he headed a cross from the midfielder, Pablo Mastroeni, into the goal post. This was also the final strike of the game and was
enough to lock another convincing win for the Rapids.
This win has powered the Rapids to sit on the top spot in the group and become the only team to secure all nine points in the season so far. However, facing their second straight defeat of the season, the United are holding a low position in the conference
with just three points from their opening.