MLS: Sporting KC Ends Colorado Title Defense

MLS: Sporting KC Ends Colorado Title Defense
Jojo Doria

Kansas City, KS

The failure to overturn a two-goal deficit coupled with injuries doomed the Colorado Rapids' chance to continue the defense of their MLS title Wednesday night, when they succumbed to a determined Sporting Kansas City 2-0 at a soggy Livestrong Sporting Park.

Amid the cold and rainy atmosphere, Aurelien Collin and C.J. Sapong delivered goals on each side of halftime that sealed Sporting's triumph, and spot in the Eastern Conference finals with a 4-0 aggregate total.

Graham Zusi provided the assists on both goals, sending set pieces into the box with Collin coming through in the 28th before Sapong capped the rout in the 76th.

Sporting KC will host either the Houston Dynamo or Philadelphia Union in the conference finals Sunday.

The consecutive losses ended the defending champion Rapids' season. The Rapids, coming off a 2-0 loss at home in the opening leg Sunday, were severely shorthanded entering Wednesday's second leg.

Colorado was missing three starters Wednesday with Caleb Folan, Kosuke Kimura, and Drew Moor all sustained injuries at Dick's Sporting Goods Park that will kept them out of the return leg.

Embattled Rapids coach Gary Smith had to rely on a makeshift squad with Scott Palguta, Joseph Nane and Ross LaBauex replacing the three injured starters.

Prior to Sunday's costly setback, the Rapids had already lost Jamie Smith to a torn right ACL and Pablo Mastroeni to a concussion.

Tyrone Marshall was also kept out of Wednesday's match after earning a red card Sunday.