COMMERCE CITY, Colo. -- Trading goals on either side of halftime, the Colorado Rapids and New England Revolution battled to a 1-1 draw Saturday evening at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
Kenny Mansally's goal early in the second half was enough to negate Colin Clark's late first-half effort and leave the teams with a share of the points.
The Revolution will remain in second place in the Eastern Conference with five matches to play after the tie, while the Rapids remain in a tie for third place in the Western Conference and the final playoff spot -- but now with Rocky Mountain rival Real Salt Lake, after they lost 1-0 at home to Chivas USA on Saturday evening.
The Rapids nearly put the Revolution down by one early. In the second minute Omar Cummings used some fancy moves to beat Jay Heaps along the end line, but his low ball across the face of the goal was just out of reach of a diving Tom McManus.
The Rapids fullbacks were pushing forward and getting involved in the offense extensively in the first half which both created Rapids opportunities and opened up opportunities for the Revolution wide players. Khano Smith especially was having success in the early going along the left flank.
Rapids defensive midfielder Nick LaBrocca, who scored the winning goal in April the last time the two teams met, nearly added another goal to his tally in the 17th minute. Receiving the ball 25 yards out, he was given lots of time by the Revolution to tee up a hard shot that New England 'keeper Matt Reis had to leap high to push over the bar.
The Rapids had the better of the play by far in the first 20 minutes, creating dangerous chances while New England was rarely able to keep the ball outside of their end of the field. In the 21st minute, Clark played a nice one-two with Cory Gibbs that resulted in a cross to Cummings. Cummings' attempt at a redirection looked dangerous, but Reis was well placed to make the save.
The Revolution had one of their few successful forays forward in the 29th minute. Smith received the ball on the left flank with plenty of space. His cross was well placed for the four New England players crashing the net, but Rapids 'keeper Preston Burpo was able fly out of his net and punch the ball out of danger.
Colorado created another chance from out wide in the 35th minute. McManus played a ball coming across the box out to Cooke on the right whose first time cross was deflected by Heaps to Clark. Clark's header was out of reach for Reis, but trickled wide of the far post.
The Rapids goal came in the 42nd minute, appropriately enough from a cross. McManus again played the ball wide to Cooke, who had as much time as he wanted to put in his cross. Clark rose above the scrum in front of the goal to direct his snap header to the back post for his fourth goal of the season.
New England entered the second half seeking to improve on their abysmal offensive performance, which saw them not record a shot in the first half. But it was the Rapids again who had the first good chance of the second half. In the 48th minute Cummings played a ball back to Cooke, whose hard shot from 20 yards looked dangerous but sailed over the bar.
When New England finally got a shot in the 50th minute, they tied the game. A Gabriel Badilla free kick from near halfway went into the box, where Gibbs rose to head the ball out but instead sent a glancing effort right to second half substitute Kenny Mansally in the penalty area. All he had to do was send a little chip over Burpo for his third goal of the season.
Colorado substitute Conor Casey came on in the 61st minute and nearly made an immediate impact on the game. In an echo of the first minutes of the game, Cummings again played a ball across the face of the goal, but it was just out of reach for Casey.
Taylor Twellman, who had had a fairly quiet night, almost broke the deadlock in the 69th minute. Deep in the Rapids penalty area, he managed to sneak between two Rapids defenders to come down with a cross. But his shot, taken while falling down, was not hard enough to present a problem for Burpo.
Twellman again made things interesting in the 74th minute, settling a pass from Mansally at the top of the box and sending a low hard shot that forced Burpo to dive to save.
Harvey and Clark continued to combine well along the left flank for Colorado. In the 77th minute Harvey dribbled deep into the Revolution box and played a pass across to Clark, whose shot pinged around in front of the net before Reis was able to fall on it.
Reis was fortunate to keep the game tied in the 83rd minute. Mehdi Ballouchy took a hard shot from 20 yards that deflected off Badilla. Reis made an excellent reaction save to push the bouncing ball just over the bar.
The Rapids squandered one last chance in the 87th minute. Cooke's free kick from near the end line just outside of the penalty box was placed perfectly at the back post, but Cummings' header was mishit and toward the sideline instead of the net.
The game did not end without controversy, as referee Michael Kennedy blew for full time as Clark was receiving a long cross inside the Revolution penalty area.
The Rapids take to the road next weekend, when they play the New York Red Bulls on the East Coast, while the Revolution also return home, for a Sunday evening, top-of-the-table rematch with the Columbus Crew.
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