Rapids fall to Santos Laguna; need help to advance in CCL

   

 By JOSÉ M. ROMERO

These last two days of CONCACAF Champions League group matches have not been kind to American MLS teams.

The Colorado Rapids, despite deploying front-line players in a clear effort to win, became the third U.S. club in two days to lose its finale of group play after Wednesday night's 2-0 loss to Santos Laguna in Torreon, Mexico. However, the Rapids can still qualify for the knockout round, but only in the event of a draw between Isidro Metapán and Real España Thursday night.

A draw would give Colorado, at seven points, the second spot out of Group B based on head-to-head results since it defeated Metapán (currently with six points) twice. But the winner of the match tops Colorado on points and advances to the quarterfinals. 

The Rapids did not have single shot on goal in the first half and had just two for the match in a game that featured a number of reserves for the home side. Group winner Santos Laguna got goals from Aaron Galindo and Alonso Escoboza after a scoreless first half.

 Santos Laguna came out firing in the second half with three shots on target in the first 11 minutes. One of those, in the 55th minute, found the net as Galindo got a good cross in front of the goal from short distance with no defender marking him and put it away.

The Rapids got a chance in the 64th minute with Well Thompson breaking in on goal, but his touch was saved after Thompson took advantage of a weak backpass toward goal.

Santos Laguna struck again in the 67th minute with Carlos Parra's ball into the box to Escoboza for a goal. 

Rapids goalkeeper Steward Ceus was shaky but busy. Within a few seconds of the 72nd minute he made a good save but then missed a catch on another shot that almost resulted in a third Santos goal. 

Omar Cummings, a second-half sub, had his shot saved in the 85th minute and the Rapids went down fairly quietly.