A Beautiful night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for the Rapids hosting Chivas USA.  It was a long week for me, so I did not rush around to get all the shots I wanted to.  It was the first sell out of the season for the Rapids, and the weather was great.  But after 3 other soccer games and a couple baseball games, I was wiped and sunburned.  In fact, I think there was a little heat exhaustion going on with me because I just had no push.

Unfortunately for me, and the other photographers who decided I had picked a good location and shot near me for most of the game, it was not really much of a game.  Chivas USA was really no match for the Rapids.  The Burgundy Boys scored a goal in the first half and held Chivas USA scoreless.  It was really too bad too.  I remember when Chivas USA were the bad boys.  Kind of the team you just hated to play.  But now, man, talk about a gimme win.

The game was ok for me photo wise.  When the ball did come down my way, I got some of my better MLS shots.  The shot above really cracks me up….A little grabby to get the advantage.  The drawback, 2 other shooters got the same photo.  I relocated my shooting position at the beginning of this season because the Rapids TV guy decided he and his TWO cable pullers needed to be right in front of me at all times.  So I moved to the other side of the goal.  No one else was setting up where I was, and when they did, they did not stay for long.  But this game, I had more shooters migrating my way.  I may have to relocate again.  Maybe next game if it looks like we will have a good sunset I will relocate to the other side of the field and see what I can get from the other end with some wide angle shots.

Chivas offered a few photo opportunities in the first half, like the shot above, heading the ball away from a Rapids corner kick.  But it was really all Rapids.  There were times it looked like the Rapids were the only ones playing.  I had quite a few shots ruined by Chivas players who just seemed to be standing around on the field.

In the second half, the Rapids poured it on and added a goal to take a 2-0 lead.  Chivas USA had a couple chances, but could not capitalize on them.  The shot above was one of those chances.  Just about to enter the box, but could not get a halfway decent shot off.

Chivas just could not compete against the size of the Rapids.  It also appeared that maybe the altitude was getting to the visiting team.  I would think pro athletes could handle 90 minutes of high altitude playing.  The Rapids capitalized on this and held Chivas USA scoreless the second half.

The second half really started to get boring as the ball was just not coming down to my side of the pitch.  In the first half, all the Chivas USA goalkeeper would do is kick the ball to the Rapids goalkeeper, but in the second half it was like Chivas could not get across midfield, and when they did, it did not last long until the Rapids had the ball back and were on the offensive again.

I did get to meet some new to me shooters at the game.  The AP shooter and another USA Today shooter.  Many of the regulars were there, but for the most part it was a quiet night in the media room.  Except for the writers.  You do not need to yell to the person you are talking to on a cell phone, especially when people around you are trying to work.

I liked the shot of LaBrocca above.  He was taken to the ground by a Chivas USA player in the second half and he popped right up onto his knees, pleading with the official for a foul call, which he got.

There was a lot of jersey and shorts grabbing in this game by both teams, and the officials seemed to let most of it go.  It was nice to see another Rapids win, but Chivas USA just gave them no competition.  I would have been nice to see a game, but this was just one sided.

So, the Rapids took the win 2-0.  My next game with them will be Saturday as the take on Dallas.  It will be the first time I have seen the Dallas team since moving to Colorado.  Hopefully it will be more of a game.