Colorado midfielder Cole Bassett showed out on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Citi Field to serve NYCFC their first loss in five games with a two-goal contribution performance. His all-around appearance earned the Homegrown a spot on the league's Team of the Matchday Starting XI.
Bassett first combined with Rafael Navarro in the 16th minute after overlapping Kévin Cabral on the right side and delivering a long cross into the box. Navarro calmly settled the ball and took his shot into the far-post side netting for the Rapids' first goal of the match. The goal marked Navarro's fifth of the season and Bassett's first assist of the season.
He struck again with minutes left to go in the match, starting the play off by forcing an NYCFC turnover in the final third. He passed to striker Calvin Harris at the top of the box and continued his overlapping run, leaving Harris to lay it off for Bassett's one-touch chance to the far post in the 86th minute. Bassett now has four goals on the season.
Team of the Matchday - Matchday 12
F: Luis Suárez (MIA), Sam Surridge (NSH), Lionel Messi (MIA)
M: Federico Bernardeschi (TOR), Cole Bassett (COL), Matias Rojas (MIA), Cristian Espinoza (SJ)
D: Brayan Vera (RSL), Rodrigues (SJ), Kervin Arriaga (MIN)
GK: Roman Bürki (STL)
Coach: Luchi Gonzalez (SJ)
Bench: Brad Stuver (ATX), Walker Zimmerman (NSH), Nikola Petkovic (CLT), Jack McGlynn (PHI), Emil Forsberg (RBNY), Luciano Acosta (CIN), Jared Stroud (DC), Hany Mukhtar (NSH), Tomás Chancalay (NE)
