We may as well start calling it the Rocky Mountain Conference.
Major League Soccer Playoffs, Colorado Rapids vs. San Jose Earthquakes: Rapids Win Eastern Conference
The Colorado Rapids beat the San Jose Earthquakes to earn a spot in the MLS Cup, marking the second straight year a team that plays for the Rocky Mountain Cup has represented the East in the final.
Kosuke Kimura scored the game's only goal in the 44th minute when his cross attempt to Omar Cummings missed everyone including Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch and scooted inside the far post. It was just one of several impressive plays Kimura made on the night. He had several dangerous crosses into the box, played masterful defense and effectively neutralized Bobby Convey on the left wing.
Although the Earthquakes applied considerable pressure in the second half, they rarely tested Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens. Coach Frank Yallop made several moves, none of which proved effective. He moved Convey from left mid to left back; substitutes Arturo Alvarez and Eduardo were brought in to bolster the attack; and Chris Wondolowski moved all over the field. None of it was able to produce anything particularly cohesive.
The Rapids made sure Busch had his hands full on the other end. After a relatively light first half, Busch had to make several saves in the final 45 minutes. He stopped a Pablo Mastroeni strike from about 20 yards out and came up big on a couple Cummings chances.
When Busch wasn’t up for the challenge, other events conspired to keep the match close.
In the 65th, Cummings was able to beat Busch on a 1-v-1, but hit the crossbar with his shot. In the 70th minute, Drew Moor's header was cleared off the line by Geovanni.
The victory marks the second time the Rapids have advanced to the MLS Cup final. The last time they made it this far was in 1997.
For the Earthquakes, this was the farthest they had advanced in the playoffs since 2003 when they won the second of their two MLS Cups.
The Rapids will now await the winner of Sunday's Western Conference final between the Los Angeles Galaxy and FC Dallas.
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