The Colorado Rapids traveled to RFK Stadium to take on DC United Sunday night. Both teams have experienced some losses as of late, putting pressure on both to get three points. Colorado fell from near the top of the Western Conference to seventh due to their three game losing streak. A win for Colorado would put them right back into the playoff standings, just in time to come home and take on the LA Galaxy Wednesday night.

Right off the bat Colorado did not look comfortable, losing almost every forward pass that they sent. DC United looked to have a game plan very similar to the Rapids last three opponents. Their 4-2-3-1 formation, although the Rapids would have everyone believe it was a 4-4-2, gave little chance for Deshorn Brown to use his speed to get past the United defenders.

In the 12th minute DC United would take advantage of a miscue by Colorado. Nick LaBrooca took his eye off the ball and which allowed Taylor Kemp to get the ball and drive the ball forward and Luis Silva took advantage of Drew Moor and Clint Irwin. Moor appeared to injure his knee on the play and would be replaced by rookie Jared Watts.

The loss of Moor meant the defense would have to step up, especially with a center mid (Watts) taking his place. Colorado would get the ball into the final third, but nothing remotely dangerous came any time. The good news for Colorado though was that DC was not getting chances either.

Colorado came out at half with the urgency that fans have been searching for. Dillon Serna would make sure to pull Colorado even. The play started when United’s keeper Bill Hamid tried to clear the ball out of his zone. Jared Watts stepped up and was able to flick the ball forward toward a rushing Dillon Serna. Serna then one-timed the ball arching it into the back of the net for what should be goal of the week.

DC would try to respond over the next few minutes and would come close to pulling ahead, but good plays by Clint Irwin and a close off-sides call kept that from happening.  DC would eventually pull ahead in the 67th minute when Silva would find himself one on one with Rapids keeper Irwin.

Colorado would bring on some fresh legs in the 72nd minute, when Gaby Torres came on for Dillon Serna. DC did not care who Colorado brought on though. In the 82nd minute United’s Chris Rolfe one timed a pass into the back of the net past a diving Clint Irwin. The play started with Taylor Kemp taking the ball up the wing and finding a streaking Rolfe.

DC was not done there either. In the 86th minute Jared Watts tried to head the ball into the middle of the field. That did not happen and David Estrada was able to get the ball to a streaking Fabian Espindola who found himself one on one with Clint Irwin.

Colorado would get a garbage time goal when Powers was able to chip the ball across the net and Deshorn Brown was able to head it into the back of the net. But it was too little too late for Colorado.

The Rapids have a quick turn around, playing the LA Galaxy Wednesday evening. With a four game losing streak behind them, and 10 games (all against the Western Conference), things will need to change fast.