May 06, 2008
Dos de Tres Caídas
by Geoff McPherson
DC United vs. Rapids, May 4th 2008
There is sports marketing and then there is FutboLucha 2008, …..honestly I’m speechless……it may um…....ah it could be good for…….no sorry just speechless. Just when I thought the testimonial match of mascots for Rapidman in 2007 was the most ludicrous spectacle I’d had ever witnessed at a sporting event over weight, half naked men with capes and masks will go head to head at Dicks.
Could you imagine the conversations that went on in the Rapids Marketing department’s brain storming session? “What do ya recon Tony, do prefer Lucha Libre or Midget Mud Wrestling better? Or how about Janet’s idea of Cock Fighting at Dicks? Great energy guys keep the ideas coming”.
In saying that if it increases the diversity of the Rapids fan demographic I’m all for it and I should never have a career in Marketing. Any fire and passion from south of the border that will stir the vocally suppressed pasty white soccer moms of Denver, I say bring it on.
DC who due to their success had the logistical nightmare of the CONCACAF Champions League playing 6 games in 19 days in April seem to be back on track with a somewhat normal schedule and to our joy clinically finished off the mob from Utah last Saturday
4-1.
There are more changes to the line up than repetitive quotes from the Democratic primary, basically we go for a 4-3-1-2 formation with the obvious omission of Cooke and Colin “Ritchie Cunningham” Clark. I’m a little baffled initially but I’m interested to see what Clavijo has up his sleeve.
There some major tension in section 118 before the game with the overly sensitive liability protective netting behind the goal, absurd to say the least, a call by season ticket holders next to me to the powers of be that the locals weren’t impressed and they were down in a flash.
First 15 minutes were brilliant, the Yang of the Rapids season compared to the Yin of San Jose. Some great early chances, diving header by Cunningham, McManus great shot from the edge of the box. He looks great going forward but his final touch looks a little concerning. There are a lot of Scottish players that can huff and puff and look good going forward but it’s the finishing that makes the difference and the reason he his here, so the jury for me is still out on the young Scotsman.
We are playing a very narrow field, Labrocca is not providing any width on the left wing, and I would have to say he is playing a role of some sort to eliminate the threat from the right side which is extremely effective. Gomez seems more valuable going forward sitting behind the front two and not playing too far up the field. He now has more options and freedom and takes full advantage of both. Cummings gets a great ball from Gomez at the end of the half but his first touch lets him down to possibly round the Wells in goal. We go in at the half where we had all the chances, the defense had eliminated any concept of a DC goal and you had the feeling that if we did score it would be lights out for lads from the Capital.
In didn’t take long in the second half, in the 52nd minute after a great move Gomez passes to an open Peterson (who is having a great game) and just lets it rip first time from just inside the 18 yard box, just a magic finish. In the next 10 minutes we had a chance I felt to finish DC off and push forward, instead we go back into a very controlled shape. It was the 10 minutes following that that there was sense of Yin in the air that DC could get their one decent shot on goal and tie this game up. Any concern about a tie was eliminated when we get the second; Cooke supplies a dinky cross to Erpen who powers home a header from 7 yards.
In summary the game strategy of Clavijo was clinically executed and as the the traditional Lucha Libre matches in Mexico are decided by two out of three falls (dos de tres caídas), this game was won with two excellent goals leaving DC flat on the mat.
And now I, as many of you have the complex issue of trying to find the perfect cape and Speedos to match our newly acquired Rapids Lucha Libre mask.