Colorado clinches MLS playoff berth with 1-0 victory over visiting Portland Timbers.
commerce city» It wasn’t one of their more entertaining performances, but the Rapids clinched a playoff berth Saturday night by eking out a 1-0 victory over the Portland Timbers.
Midfielder Sebastien Le Toux, who came to Colorado in August via a trade with Philadelphia, scored the game-winner in the second half against a feisty foe that fought hard despite not having won a road game all season.
Portland won the MLS Cup last season but may not make it to the playoffs this season.
The Rapids needed a win or a tie to clinch a playoff berth with four regular-season games left, but with so much at stake, they were out of sync in the early going. For much of the first half they struggled to maintain possession and didn’t manage even an attempt on goal until the 29th minute, a long-range shot by midfielder Sam Cronin that was handled easily by Portland goalkeeper Jake Gleeson.
“We were too slow with the ball. We weren’t aggressive enough without possession. It was almost like we were waiting for something to happen,” said coach Pablo Mastroeni.
Portland seemed to have more resolve with the ball, and the Rapids exhibited some of the shaky defending that was on display last week in a 3-3 tie at Vancouver, forcing goalkeeper Tim Howard to make two saves before intermission.
The Rapids were fortunate to get out of the first half without falling behind when Portland midfielder Diego Valeri got free in the Rapids’ penalty area in the 36th minute and fired a shot that got past Howard but hit the far post and bounced out of danger.
“It wasn’t our best half,” conceded Rapids defender Jared Watts. “We weathered the storm a little bit.”
The Rapids knew getting the first goal was going to be vital, and it came in the 63rd minute when Marlon Hairston beat three defenders on the right wing and cut a ball to Le Toux, who scored from 16 yards out. Hairston made the play. “It was a great play from Marlon,” Le Toux said. “He crossed it perfectly. I just finished it. It was a good goal.”
The win gave Colorado sole possession of second place in the Western Conference. The Rapids were tied with Los Angeles, but the Galaxy lost 1-0 at FC Dallas in a game played simultaneously. FC Dallas, which leads the conference, and the Galaxy have played two more games than Colorado.
“The second half we came out with a different energy, different type of momentum,” Mastroeni said. “We earned it the right way. Last week was a bit of a kick in the teeth. Tonight was a real professional performance and a fantastic three points.”