Chivas USA Rallies Past Colorado Rapids At StubHub

Oct 11, 2014; Carson, CA, USA; Chivas USA forward Felix Borja (20) moves the ball defended by Colorado Rapids midfielder Jos Mari (6) during the first half at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Wilmer Cabrera’s Chivas USA aren’t going down quietly into oblivion. Down a goal at halftime, the Goats rallied back to secure a rare 2-1 victory over Pablo Mastroeni’s Colorado Rapids before another sparse crowd at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. Let’s take a look at six things we learned, followed by player ratings, for the match between Chivas USA and the Colorado Rapids.

1. A tenuous ball possession battle early on

Early on in the first half, a warning shot from Colorado’s Charles Eloundou seconds in set the tempo. The next several minutes were a tenuous ball possession battle, with Chivas USA winning possession. Colorado’s new acquisition, Zat Knight, was hoping to get his head on the ball in the eight minute but the set piece from Dillon Powers was headed wide left. Chivas forward Ryan Finley had a long chance missed wide left of the mark in the 12th minute.

2. John Neeskens delivers the first blow

Colorado defender Thomas Piermayr took a knock in the 14th minute and would be feeling the effects for a while. Felix Borja was jammed by Jared Watts in the 17th mimute on what looked like a golden opportunity for the Goats. Former Chivas USA swingman Carlos Alvarez missed wide right in the 18th minute. Marvell Wynne would take over for Piermayr soon after.

In the 20th minute, Dan Kennedy was forced to make a save off a Powers set piece intended for Knight, conceding a corner in the process that was eventually cleared. Borja didn’t have a lot of originality in the 22nd minute, causing the Time Warner Cable Deportes crew wonder where a certain Erick “Cubo” Torres was. Jose Mari was cautioned in the 23rd minute for a challenge. Eriq Zavaleta would also be cautioned one minute late for flattening Eloundou.

In the 25th minute, a free kick from Powers from outside the box had the bend but too much lift. Eloundou tried it again in the 27th minute but missed wide right. In the 30th minute, defender John Neeskens, who is not related to Johan Neeskens, took a pass from Eloundou and hammered it home to make it 1-0 Colorado. The goal was Neeskens’s first of the season.

3. Dan Kennedy: Charles Eloundou’s nemesis

Borja was called back for offsides on a Leandro Barrera though in the 33rd minute, another big opportunity for the Chivas forward that was wasted. Eloundou forced another save from Kennedy in the 35th minute. One minute later, after some great passing from the Rapids, Eloundou was denied again by the Chivas netminder. In the 38th minute, Powers had a header from Wynne miss to the left.

At this point, the cards were beginning to pile up. Oswaldo Minda earned yet another caution in the 42nd minute for an off-the-ball foul, adding to his unenviable collection of cautions this season. Akira Kaji would also receive a caution in the 44th minute for an infrnigement on Jose Mari after losing possession.

First Half Team Statistics
Chivas USA to left, Colorado Rapids to right

3 Shots 15
1 Shots on Target 5
2 Shots off Target 6
0 Blocked Shots 4
0 Corners 1
4 Crosses 8
1 Offsides 0
8 Fouls 5 3 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0
233 Total Passes 292
82 % Passing Accuracy 86 %
44 % Possession 56 %
22 Duels Won 26
7 Tackles Won 11
4 Saves 1
15 Clearances 3

4. More of the tenuous ball possession battle in second half

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Early on in the second half, Chivas USA were forced to chase another match after getting sucker-punched on a sensational passing sequence in the opening stanza. Goats midfielder Eric Avila came in for Minda at the break. As with the first half, the first 15 minutes of the second half were a ball possessiomn battle, but the the possession was a bit more even. Borja had a shot in the 53th minute but it was a tad too high.

5. Tyrpak evens the score for Chivas

A Powers free kick for the Rapids in the 62nd minute intended for Eloundou was easily blocked. Kristopher Tyrpak came in for Finley in the 64th minute of play. With a great first touch, the super sub made an immediate impact with a goal off the run of play in the 65th minute. The goal was Tyrpak’s second of the season and Matthew Dunn, who was mentioned by the Plex in a piece earlier this past week, set up that goal.

Meanwhile, Knight had no one but himself to blame for failing to mark Tyrpak, who almost cashed in on a brace in the 69th minute but missed the delivery. Rapids forward Kamani Hill came in for Alvarez in the 72nd minute of play. Wynne had one of his most speculative volleys on goal in the 73rd minute. That came following a blocked shot from Nick LaBrocca seconds ago.

6. Borja completes the comeback

Hill had a shot in the 77th minute blocked. In a desparate throw of the dice, Rapids forward Edson Buddle came in for Powers in the 82nd minute of play. Eloundou’s next chance came from long distance second late but it was saved easily by Dan Kennedy. In the 85th minute, Borja scored a wonderful header from Kaji’s cross on the right side to make it 2-1 Chivas. The goal was Borja’s third of the season.

Borja almost had a brace in the 87th minute but the long ball has too much pace. Elondou had another chance in the 88th minute miss wide left in what had been a sorry night in terms of finishing. Chivas defender Tony Lochhead came in for Barrera in the 89th minute to close out the contest. He would also earn a caution in the second minute of stoppage time for a foul on Hill.

Team Statistics

Chivas USA to left, Colorado Rapids to right

Chivas USA Player Ratings

Dan Kennedy 7, Akira Kaji 6.5, Bobby Burling 6, Donny Toia 6, Eriq Zavaleta 5.5, Leandro Barrera 6, Matthew Dunn 7, Nigel Reo-Coker 6, Oswaldo MInda 4.5, Felix Borja 8, Ryan Finley 5, Kristopher Tyrpak 7, Eric Avila 5, Tony Lochhead 1.5

Colorado Rapids Player Ratings

Clint Irwin 3, Jared Watts 4, Marc Burch 4, Thomas Piermayr NR, Zat Knight 2, Carlos Alvarez 4, John Neeskens 6, Jose Mari 3.5, Nick LaBrocca 3, Charles Eloundou 5, Dillon Power 4, Marvell Wynne 4, Kamani Hill 2, Edson Buddle NR