SoccerAmerica - Colorado Rapids routed by Santos 09/14/2011

[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Defending MLS champion Colorado relinquished first place in group B of the Concacaf Champions League Tuesday night when Santos Laguna inflicted a 4-1 pounding at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Santos dominated play from the start and forged its impressive victory by scoring twice in each half.

Daniel Luduena and Oribe Peralta tallied 13 minutes apart in the first half, and goals separated by seven minutes from Carlos Quintero and Christian Suarez wrapped up the victory that moved Santos (2-1-0, 6 pts.) into a first-place tie with Isidro Metapan, which pulled off a 2-1 victory at Real Espana on Tuesday.

The Rapids (1-1-1, 4 pts.) lost for the first time in group play and dropped to third place. They managed only a consolation goal from substitute Brian Mullan in the 77th minute, six minutes after Suarez had scored.

Guadaloupe international defender Miguel Commingues, who signed with Colorado last week, debuted for the Rapids as a halftime replacement for left back Danny Earls. Coach Gary Smith rested veteran defender Tyrone Marshall and paired Scott Palguta with Marvell Wynne in the middle, with Drew Moor moving to right back, and Santos overran the makeshift back line repeatedly.

Interim head coach Eduardo Rergis, director of the Santos Laguna youth system, directed the team from the bench. Former Mexican international Benjamin Galindo was officially named as Diego Cocca’s replacement a few hours before kickoff and will take charge this week.

In the fourth round of group play, Colorado plays at home against Real Espana next Wednesday, and Santos hosts Metapan a week from Thursday.

6 comments

Luis Arreola

commented on: September 14, 2011 at 9:48 a.m.

Wake up call to all MLS enthusiasts! !! Game is a little different when a team has all its players, huh? Long way to go MLS. Maybe the difference is Mexico invests in its homegrown talent more than it does with foreigners. They are also showing more interest in the Hispanic in USA.

Simon Provan

commented on: September 14, 2011 at 11:14 a.m.

So Luis, let me get this straight, when you predict a loss for an MLS team to a Mexican team, you don't dare to comment when the MLS side wins the game and proves you wrong. Yet, when you make no prediction and a Mexican side wins, you come on here acting like a know it all. Seems a little ridiculous to me. By the way, based on your commnet, what then should I make of a mainly reserve Seattle team beating a team of mainly first team Monterrey players IN Mexico?

Luis Arreola

commented on: September 14, 2011 at 5:55 p.m.

Great win for Seattle, Simon. No question that a few MLS are now playing a more attractive and effective "Hispanic" style of soccer. You have to admit that it will take a very long time before MLS teams can ever consider itself close to the same level as Mexico teams with it's current development system. It surprises me to see how people like Stuper here are so proud as an American when the MLS is and will keep on coming up with new rules to get more foreignors into the league and less "Homegrown" players. This is exactly why England is not developing better talent as it once did.

Luis Arreola

commented on: September 14, 2011 at 6:01 p.m.

Stuper, you are correct. Mexico has underachieved in the past due to people in charge up top. It has done much better though than Usa who has in fact overachieved. Mexico however has had the most impressive overall international results this year than any other country in the world. U17 World Cup Champs, U20 3rd place , Gold Cup Winner, Confederations Qualifier, Won vs Chile in friendly. Who has done better this year as a whole ?? No one. What did USA do this year ?? Yea, the gap isn't that big sunshine. Do you really believe you are Super Man ??

Luis Arreola

commented on: September 14, 2011 at 7:34 p.m.

Stuper, the biggest problem is you in the USA. People like you complain about Hispanics root for Hispanics and that they go to other countries teams instead of worrying about how Americans look at soccer development. You honestly think that practicing twice or 3 times Max and 1 game of constant subbing a week will produce top soccer players? Its amazing to me to see 4+ subs in 7v7,9v9 or 11v11 game with hardly anyone being able to withstand a full 30minute half when in fact to play pro you play a full 90. That should be one of the things you should be more concerned about. Funny enough the only ones I see working around this system are Hispanics who usually play on multiple teams to get sufficient playing time because they love that much to play. Your the problem Batman!!

I w Nowozeniuk

commented on: September 14, 2011 at 8:28 p.m.

What's all the arguing about...Rapids were outclassed and couldn't finish while Christopher Sullivan winded himself on how attacking minded and fantastic the Rapids were with their combinations, when in fact they couldn't finish anything all night.

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