COMMERCE CITY, Colo. -- The Colorado Rapids fell 2-1 to Everton in an international friendly Sunday night, as a Conor Casey goal just after halftime was sandwiched by an early goal from Everton's Mikel Arteta and a goal just before the end of the game by Leon Osman.
Everton scored on their first shot of the game. Arteta received the ball at the top of the center circle and, taking advantage of an open man on the left wing, was able to feint and keep defender Facundo Erpen unsure of his intentions. This gave Arteta enough time and space for a shot from the top of the box that beat a diving Preston Burpo.
The Rapids had a nice chance in the 10th minute. Terry Cooke charged up the right wing and played a pass forward to Omar Cummings, whose cross went long of the goal but ended up falling nicely to Christian Gomez at the far side of the box. Philip Neville, however, recovered quickly to ensure Gomez could not do more than trap the ball before it was cleared out of danger.
But for an amazing save from Everton 'keeper and U.S. international Tim Howard, the Rapids would have pulled even in the 15th minute. Christian Gomez, freed at midfield by a nice give and go with Pablo Mastroeni, found Casey with a little space in the box. With his back to goal, Casey spun and shot, but his effort was blocked by Everton defender Joleon Lescott out to Cooke. Cooke's subsequent cross went right to the head of Casey, and his hard header forced a quick one-handed reaction save from Howard, saving the clean sheet and the lead.
The Rapids were relying more on flank play and long passes through to their forwards, while Everton's offensive strategy was more focused on creating short passes and personnel mismatches which opened up shots and the occasional cross into the box. One such cross came in the 27th minute from Dan Gosling, aiming for the head of Ayegbeni Yakubu, who looked to be consistently fighting a physical battle with the Rapids defenders. His header, however, skied high over the bar.
The Rapids wasted a golden chance in the 28th minute. Colin Clark was able to outrun Neville to the end line and sent a low cross to Casey at the penalty spot. Casey, with his back to the goal, shielded well but his short pass aimed at Gomez was well of the mark. Mastroeni was able to run onto it before anyone else, but his shot from the top of the box went well over the goal.
The Rapids seemed to take more of the initiative as the game neared halftime, but their many offensive forays and quality buildups were not translating into many shots. Gomez had one excellent chance in stoppage time, taking a cross from Ugo Ihemelu and hitting a nice shot from inside the penalty area that Howard had to dive to again make a one-handed save.
The second half began with wholesale changes for the Rapids, with Herculez Gomez, Nick LaBrocca and Bouna Coundoul replacing Cummings, Mehdi Ballouchy and Burpo, respectively. Everton replaced midfielder Jack Rodwell with defender Joseph Yobo and defender Leighton Baines with Nuno Valente.
The Rapids came out on the attack and evened the score in the 49th minute. Cooke sent a long cross from 40 yards out aimed at Casey. Yobo was looked well placed to intercept the cross, but it instead deflected off of him to Casey, who wasted no time in unleashing a hard shot. Howard was able to dive and get a hand to the ball, but it was not enough to prevent it from going into the back of the net.
Everton responded with some attacking flair of their own in the 55th minute. Steven Pienaar went on a nice dribbling run to the end line before pulling the ball back and laying a nice pass to Osman at the penalty spot. Osman's effort, however, was easily saved by a diving Coundoul.
Herculez Gomez took a wicked shot in the 58th minute from 30 yards that looked headed for goal. But Howard was able to get up and punch the ball over the bar.
Everton nearly pulled away again in the 65th minute, as Peinaar intercepted a pass across the back from Jose Burciaga Jr. to Erpen. Yakubu was unable to control Peinaar's pass, however, and Coundoul was able to rush up to make the save.
Erpen nearly scored one of his own in the 73rd minute. A long Burciaga corner kick found him alone on the far side of the penalty box. His powerful header, however, went just outside of the back post.
The end stages of the game saw furious charges from both sides, with few chances to show for it. Each defense stiffened up, punishing severely each small offensive mistake. The Rapids did generate one last excellent chance in the 85th minute, with Cooke again finding Casey's head with a cross. Casey, who was positioned right in front of the goal, met the cross well with his head, but his effort was over the bar.
Everton broke the deadlock in the 87th minute. Second half substitution Jose Baxter went on a surging run forward into the penalty area and toward the end line before playing the ball back to an unmarked Osman. Osman threaded the ball past a diving Coundoul and two Rapids defenders on the endline.
The Rapids nearly pulled it back in the 89th minute. Clark's slaloming run went from the left flank to the top of the box, beating three Everton defenders on the way before playing the ball to Cooke. Cooke unleashed a rocket shot, but Howard once again was able to dive and make one last clutch save.
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