Game 8: Rocky Mountain Disaster

1st Half Grade: C+
RSL looked like they could finally get their act together on the road in the first half. They were able to string passes together and hold possession. The defense was shaky at times but held. However, when they were unable to get a goal to really set the tone, I got worried about what may happen in the 2nd half. Boy, was I right on that one... Anyway, a decent, but entirely pedestrian effort in the first half.

2nd Half Grade: F
I believe RSL has invented a time machine! They had to have, because that was vintage 2005 RSL. No defense, no offense, no nothing. Every player that attacked wide for the Crapids was WIDE OPEN. I'm not sure if it was tactics or just laziness, but the outside backs (ESPECIALLY Beltran) didn't cover anyone in the 2nd half. Beltran was burned again and again and again by leaving Colin Clark wide open and he was finally able to make RSL pay by threading a perfect cross into the box in the path of Omar Cummings who put it away for the first goal. Of course, after that RSL went into a more attacking mindset, which resulted in very little extra offense unfortunately. Too many turnovers by RSL when they could not afford them. RSL's attacking did help Colorado's offense, however, as the defense became even more unorganized and scrambling. It was during one of these scrambles that a ball came up and hit Mantilla in the arm in the box. PK, Christian Gomez, drive home safely. 2-0 Colorado.

Pros:
-Borchers looks to have regained his form, he was huge in the back.
-Rimando was solid again. How much do you think DC wishes they still had him instead of Wells right now?
-Deuchar finally started getting involved in the attack again.

Cons:
-Tony Beltran was absolutely horrible.
-Matias Mantilla was also horrible.
-Beckerman's first touch seems to be getting worse.
-Morales was injured and couldn't go.
-Espi was trying to do too much.
-For a Rocky Mountain Cup game, there was little to no passion from RSL.
-We lost to Colorado.

Game Grade: F
Yes, the second half was THAT bad. It cancels out any positives from the first half. For whatever reason this team is beyond terrible on the road. If RSL has any designs on the playoffs, they better get this figured out, and quick.

Player grades:
Nick Rimando-7 Confident play from 'Little Nicky'
Tony Beltran-3 Atrocious. No defense and turnover prone.
Kyle Beckerman-6 Active, but unspectacular.
Nat Borchers-8 A rock in the back.
Fabian Espindola-5 Tried to take on too many defenders too many times.
Kenny Cutler-5 OK, nothing special.
(Robbie Findley 69)-5 Never really got going.
Kenny Deuchar-6 Needs to keep his headers down.
Chris Wingert-6 Hard to score. Great going forward, weak in defense.
(Dustin Kirby 87)-6 Did all right with very limited time.
Dema Kovalenko-8 Was all over the field all night.
Matias Mantilla-3 Clearances were terrible, gave up the (inadvertent) handball in the box.
Andy Williams-6 Performance dropped as the game wore on.
(Matias Cordoba 84)-5 Never really had a chance to get involved.

RSL Man of the Match:
Dema Kovalenko - He seemed to be one of the few capable of passing tonight. Or seeing the field and changing the point of attack. Or going at Crapids players. A good game on any night stood out even more because of the lack of quality from most of his teammates.

Assclown of the Match:
Pablo Mastroeni - Just because.