After two days of training to begin their second preseason camp, Colorado Rapids Soccer Club secured a convincing 9-0 win against UPSL side Sporting AZ at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson.
Head coach Anthony Hudson selected a starting 11 which featured captain Tim Howard, as well Dominique Badji, Nana Boateng, Edgar Castillo, Kortne Ford, Sam Hamilton, Marlon Hairston, Jack McBean and trialist Enzo Martinez.
Rounding out the starters were new signings Jack Price and Tommy Smith, who joined the club in the offseason from English Championship leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. and Ipswich Town F.C. respectively. Smith arrived in Arizona late Wednesday and participated in his first preseason training sessionThursday but has seemed to acclimate quickly.
Castillo was the first to set the tone after he skipped past several defenders and slotted the ball past Sporting AZ’s goalkeeper just two minutes into the match.
Price made his presence known shortly after in the 25th minute with a phenomenal through ball from the midfield that landed at the feet of McBean, who finished the job.
Fifteen minutes in to the second half, the Rapids subbed all 11 players, bringing on Stefan Aigner, Micheal Azira, Caleb Calvert, Zac MacMath, Ricardo Perez, Dillon Serna, Axel Sjöberg and Jared Watts, as well as offseason signings Johan Blomberg, Deklan Wynne and draftee Niki Jackson. The new group added seven more goals to the scoresheet, thanks to one-off goals from Calvert, Aigner, and Perez, and braces from both Blomberg and Jackson. The match would finish 9-0 after 120 minutes.
Next up for the Rapids is a scrimmage against Phoenix Rising FC at the Phoenix Rising FC Soccer Complex in Scottsdale, Arizona.
For more on the Rapids preseason schedule, visit ColoradoRapids.com.
BOX SCORE:
Colorado Rapids 9-0 Sporting AZ
February 9, 2018 - Tucson, AZ
Scoring Summary:
COL: 2’ - Castillo
COL: 25’ - McBean
COL: 63’ - Calvert
COL: 67’ - Aigner
COL: 78’ – Jackson
COL: 102’ – Blomberg
COL: 106’ – Perez
COL: 118’ – Blomberg
COL: 120’ - Jackson
First Half Lineup: Dominique Badji, Nana Boateng, Edgar Castillo, Kortne Ford, Sam Hamilton, Marlon Hairston, Tim Howard, Enzo Martinez, Jack McBean, Jack Price, Tommy Smith
Second Half Lineup: Stefan Aigner, Micheal Azira, Johan Blomberg, Caleb Calvert, Niki Jackson, Zac MacMath, Ricardo Perez, Dillon Serna, Axel Sjöberg, Jared Watts, Deklan Wynne
