The Rapids couldn't find a way into the Seattle net. (Seattlepi.com)
The 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs opened last night in Seattle, and for most of the experts, things went according to script. Neither the Seattle Sounders or the Colorado Rapids had been in particularly good form entering the playoffs, but most folks, myself included, figured that the Sounders'u playoff tested vets would pass the test while Colorado's inexperience would show through. In a nutshell, that's not a bad descriptor, though one of Seattle's veterans made a very costly mistake that could have cost his team the playoffs.
The Sounders opened the proceedings in high fashion, as they clearly knew what was on the line. A lot of the first half action took place in the Colorado defensive half, and Sounders' keeper Michael Gspurning could have unfolded a lawn chair in his own 18. For his part, Colorado coach Oscar Pareja gambled a bit, throwing a largely untested back 4 combination into the fire. Shane O'Neill slid out to right back and German Mera started at center back next to Drew Moor, and this left the speedy Marvell Wynne on the bench.
The Sounders largely had a field day against this unit in the first, and playoff butterflies seemed to play a part as well. The Rapids nearly conceded in the 12th minute when Mera misplayed a ball and left Lamar Neagle alone with Clint Irwin. Neagle tried to head the ball over the Colorado keeper, but Irwin was up to the test, barely, jumping at the last second and tipping the ball over the end line for a corner kick.
Colorado's defense looked largely lost in the first half and Seattle managed to fashion a number of chances, including a shot from Dempsey that went wide in the 23rd minute. Finally they hit pay dirt in minute 29 as somehow Brad Evans was left all alone near the top of the 18. The USMNT man had all the time in the world to line up his shot and drive it inside the far post to give Seattle a 1-0 lead.
After the goal, things got a little chippy. Late in the first half Seattle defender DeAndre Yedlin jumped into a ball with Colorado's DeShorn Brown, clearly leading with his arm/elbow, which drilled Brown in the head. This the kind of thing that MLS has given out red cards and extra suspensions for all year long, but no foul was called on the play. Brown was able to continue, but things weren't as good for Yedlin as he sprained his ankle on the landing and exited the match at halftime. Then in the first minute of stoppage time Atiba Harris was inexplicably hit with a yellow for what seemed like a clean tackle, and the Rapids went to the locker room trailing 1-0 and fuming at the situation.
I really thought that the Rapids would bring in Vincente Sanchez to start the second half. They had literally nothing going offensively and without Sanchez and Dillon Powers, they were not able to setup anything for Brown or Gaby Torres. This didn't happen though.
Instead the Sounders continued to push, and nearly changed the game in the 52nd minute. Dempsey ran onto a ball played into space deep in the Rapids end, and Irwin appeared to be the only man between him and the goal. Irwin came out of the box and brought Dempsey down, ending the threat. Initially, I thought it should have been a red card on Irwin, but replays clearly showed Drew Moor getting back and providing cover on the play. Irwin received a yellow on the play, and in the end, it might have been the smart move, as a Seattle goal there might have blown the match open.
Finally the Rapids brought Sanchez into the attack things started to open up for them. However, they were really unable to test Gspurning severely. In the 58th minute a shot from Brown slithered out of the wet gloves of the Seattle keeper and fell to Torres, but the Panamanian striker was too close to the goal and could only send the rebound over the end line for a goal kick.
The Rapids did get a huge boost late in the match though. In the 86th minute, Gspurning inexplicably left his 18 yard box and caught an incoming ball. His reaction to the Colorado outrage and the forthcoming red card clearly showed that he had no clue where he was at on the pitch. Seattle were now down to 10 men, facing 5 minutes of stoppage time.
But in the end it was Seattle who took advantage of the extra few minutes. In the 3rd minute of stoppage time Eddie Johnson split a bewildered and tired Rapids defense and slotted a goal inside Irwin's near post to make the full time score 2-0.
So the Sounders took care of business, as most expected them to do. The Rapids didn't make it easy on them though, as they fought tooth and nail to the end. One has to look back at the finale of the regular season and see it's effects at this point. If the Rapids could have won in Vancouver, they could have avoided the play-in game and hosted RSL this weekend. Instead, relative inexperience showed through there as well, as they lost and faced traveling to LA or Seattle. Colorado always needed a home match in the cold, high autumn weather in Commerce City to have a real chance in these playoffs. However, as a very young team they exceeded expectations as will be even better next year.
The Sounders will move on to face the Portland Timbers in a Cascadia rivalry playoff tie that will surely be mouthwatering in it's intensity. However, the Sounders will have to be better against Portland. They'll need to take advantage of any mistakes and not make the near fatal errors themselves. Still, the folks in Seattle were rightly celebrating last night and not worrying about Portland just yet.
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