COMMERCE CITY — Longtime U.S. national team goalkeeper Tim Howard gave the Rapids what his predecessor had been producing with regularity this season — a shutout — but they had to settle for a scoreless draw Monday night in their annual Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza.
Colorado dominated possession, as it typically does, out-shot the Portland Timbers 13-7 and put four shots on goal versus two for the visitors. Howard, who has made 109 appearances for the U.S., had little to do in his Rapids debut but was solid when he needed to be.
There were some interesting undercurrents associated with Howard’s debut that may not have been apparent for any patrons in the standing-room-only crowd of 18,759 who came out more for the traditional fireworks extravaganza than football.