Colorado Rapids Salute Pablo Mastroeni, Beat Chivas USA (VIDEO)

Jul 25, 2014; Commerce City, CO, USA; Fans react after a goal by Colorado Rapids forward Gabriel Torres (not pictured) during the second half against the Chivas USA at Dick

On a night in which Colorado Rapids manager Pablo Mastroeni was honored for his years of service to the club as a player, his Rapids shut out Wilmer Cabrera’s Chivas USA, 3-0, on Friday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. The win keeps the Rapids in the middle of the MLS Western Conference and in the hunt for a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Here are six things we learned, followed by player ratings, for the match between the Colorado Rapids and Chivas USA.

1. LaBrocca opens his scoring account with style

Early on in the first half, Dillon Serna had a volley from outside the box that hit the woodwork in thge second minute. After a lengthy ball possession battle, Serna had another chance in the 12th minute miss to the left. In the 16th minute, Nick LaBrocca scored to give the Rapids a 1-0 lead with a curling shot inside the far post. The goal opened his scoring account for the year. Take a look.

2. Drew Moor makes it 2-0 Colorado

In the 16th minute, Vicente Sanchez had a left-footed shot from the center of the box blocked. Chivas USA had their first chance of the night in the 18th minute when Donny Toia had a header from the left side of the box miss to the left. Gabriel Torres, making his first start for the Rapids since may, had a shot from the outside of the box blocked in the 25th minute. However, one minute later it was Drew Moor that would put the Rapids up 2-0 off the ensuing corner.

3. Colorado press for a third late in the first half

The rest of the first half saw few chances from each side, but the chances were of quality. In the 34th minute, Colorado’s Jared Watts had a right-footed shot from outside the box saved by Dan Kennedy in the bottom left corner. Erick Torres, who would see his hotstreak end on Friday, had a right-footed shot from outside the box blocked in the 35th minute of play.

One minute later, Nathan Sturgis was cautioned for a foul on Watts. The challenge on Watts was hard enough that he would have to be subbed out for Marlon Hairston in the 42nd minute. A through ball for Sanchez from Serna was whistled back for offsides. In the 45th minute, Torres’s next chance was collected by Kennedy.

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4. One hot minute in the second half

Early on in the second half, Serna had a shot from outside of the box miss high in the 48th minute of play. In the 60th minute, after another lengthy ball possession battle, Sanchez’s delivery to Torres was whistled for offsides. Moor was hoping to earn a brace in the 63rd minute but his header hit the bar. In that same minute, Gabriel Torres had a shot blocked, Sanchez’s next attempt was saved and Serna was also blocked.

5. Welcome back, Gabriel Torres

In the 64th minutre of play, Chivas forward Ryan Finley came in for midfielder Eric Avila to get the Goats back in this game. Erick Torres’s next chance in the 67th minute was blocked. A former Chivas USA standout, Rapids midfielder Carlos Alvarez, came in for Sanchez in the 70th minute of play. In the 73rd minute, Rapids goalkeeper Clint Irwin made a point-blank save on Marco Delgado to keep the shutout intact. In the 74th minute, Gabriel Torres opened his scoring account to effectively put the game out of reach.

6. Colorado close the game off with ease

Edson Buddle came in for Gabriel Torres in the 76th minute to help close out the game for the Rapids. He almost made an impact in the 79th minute but his shot was too high. Midfielder Matthew Dunn came in for Delgado in the 80th minute of play. Alvarez’s through ball for Buddle in that same minute was called back for offsides. Dillon Powers had a shot in the 88th minute miss to the right, and that was the last big chance for either team as the Rapids marched to a big win at home.

Team Statistics

Colorado Rapids in burgundy, Chivas USA in blue

16	Shots	4
7	Shots on Target	1
6	Shots off Target	1
3	Blocked Shots	2
6	Corners	3
13	Crosses	19
3	Offsides	0
7	Fouls	5
0	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
457	Total Passes	385
78 %	Passing Accuracy	75 %
53.5 %	Possession	46.5 %
34	Duels Won	43
18	Tackles Won	17
1	Saves	3
20	Clearances	14

Colorado Rapids Player Ratings

Clint Irwin 6, Chris Klute 6, Drew Moor 8, Marc Burch 7, Marvell Wynne 7, Dillon Powers 8, Dillon Serna 8, Jared Watts 5, Nick LaBrocca 8, Gabriel Torres 9, Vicente Sanchez 6, Marlon Hairston 5, Carlos Alvarez 4, Edson Buddle 3

Chivas USA Player Ratings

Dan Kennedy 3, Akira Kaji 2, Andrew Jean-Baptiste 2, Donny Toia 2, Eriq Zavaleta 2, Agustin Pelletieri 3, Eric Avila 2, Marco Delgado 4, Nathan Sturgis 3.5, Erick Torres 5, Leandro Barrera 4, Ryan Finley 2, Matthew Dunn NR

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