RSS
Mullan thunder bolt fells Crew
Brian Mullan made the most of a Friday night game, launching a goal of the week nominee, and Sanna Nyassi turned provider as the Colorado Rapids downed the Columbus Crew 2-0 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City.
Colorado improved to 9-6-10 (37 points) and dispatched the third Eastern Conference leading team in the past four games. And while the win over the Crew lacked the emphatic nature of the beating New York recieved, it wasn’t nearly the nervous affair of a narrow win over the Philadelphia Union.
The Rapids dominated play throughout, but struggled to finish. Colorado fired 10 shots in the first half to the Crew’s four, and forced ‘keeper Will Hesmer to make three saves, but lacked venom in the final third.
In the 54th minute, Mullan found the answer the answer. He received a pass from Wells Thompson on the right wing, took one touch and unleashed his shot from 35 yards out. Hesmer dove, but could do nothing to stop the blast that went into the upper left corner. The wonder shot was Mullan’s first goal since joining the team in September 2010.
Slapped to life by Mullan’s strike, Columbus started to press the tempo in the game. ‘Keeper Matt Pickens and defender Tyrone Marshall, however, quelled the challenges and Colorado kept probing for a second goal.
The goal came in the 79th minute as Nyassi returned the favor to the provider of his four tallies this season. Nyassi won a 50-50 ball and spun away from his defender. Breaking down the middle of field, the Gambian saw Omar Cummings streaking forward to his right. Nyassi pushed the ball to his strike partner. Cummings delivered a clinical right-footed finish an instant before Hesmer arrived.
Columbus (9-7-7, 34 points), now laboring in the altitude and down by two, offered little more for the remainder of the match.
Next Up: The schedule starts to get busy for the Rapids. Colorado visits the San Jose Earthquakes on Aug. 13, returns home to face Isidro Metapan in CONCACAF Champions League play on Aug. 17, and then sees Chivas USA at DSG Park on Aug. 20.
Nice Timing: Cummings, who worked to get Nyassi in behind the Columbus defense all night, was a worthy goal scorer. His strike was his third of the season, but his first since April. Cummings, who led the team with 14 goals in 2010, currently leads the Rapids in assists with six on the season.
Leave your response!