Rapids reach playoff places with win over SKC

Colorado Rapids 2-0 Sporting Kansas City

COMMERCE CITY, CO–The Rapids reached the playoff places of the Western Conference following a 2-0 win over Sporting Kansas City at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday night. With Minnesota drawing at Real Salt Lake, the Rapids now sit eighth ahead of the Loons on more wins. Sporting KC have now lost five of their last six and returned to the bottom of the entire league with Atlanta winning. Both teams were in their first match since July 31st as neither were participating in Leagues Cup.

The Rapids have several chances to go ahead in the first half. The closest of them was Paxton Aaronson free kick going off the bar in the 31st minute. They didn’t go up a goal in the first half, but they would go up a man in the 38th minute as Kwaku Agyabeng saw red for his rash challenge on Rafael Navarro.

Colorado continued to press with the man advantage in the second half and they finally got through in the 65th minute. Reggie Cannon headed in Youssef Maziz’s corner to put the Rapids ahead. Sporting had a great chance to equalize in the 87th minute, but Calvin Harris pushed his shot wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Photo: LA Brothers

Sporting KC would go down a second man in stoppage time as Moises Mosquera denied Reggie Cannon a goal scoring opportunity. Navarro would ice the match shortly thereafter on a counter attack to give the Rapids the three points and their third win in the last four matches.

The Rapids return to action on Wednesday to host LAFC (7:30pm MT, Apple TV), while Sporting Kansas City will host St. Louis City SC in an I-70 Derby on Wednesday (7pm CT, Apple TV/FS1).

Photo by LA Brothers