MLS announced Monday that after notching the Rapids' game-winning goal against Sporting Kansas City, striker Diego Rubio has been named to the league's Team of the Matchday bench.
The Chilean took three shots with two on frame Saturday night at Children's Mercy Park, finally drilling one home in the 68th minute to give the Rapids the lead and their first win of the season. Following a bicycle kick clearance at the top of the box by Darren Yapi, Rubio beat Sporting's Rémi Walter to charge downfield and take a shot just yards from the top of the box.
His goal marks his first of the season after finishing the 2022 season tied with Conor Casey's single-season scoring record of 16. It was his 14th game-winning goal as a member of the Rapids, adding to the all-time club record he set last season.
"Throughout the night, really good moments of quality, very diligent in what he was asked to do defensively, and I cannot say enough about the goal—the effort to get to the ball, the composure, the choice, the actual choice of how to strike the ball," said head coach Robin Fraser after the game. "It was a real moment that I felt like Diego making a statement that he’s back, and for us, we’re really excited about that, really excited about having Diego returning to peak form because when he’s good, he’s really dangerous for us.”
Team of the Matchday
F: Amine Bassi (HOU), Kei Kamara (CHI), Dénis Bouanga (LAFC)
M: Jefferson Savarino (RSL), Josh Atencio (SEA), Carles Gil (NE), Julian Gressel (VAN)
D: Franco Escobar (HOU), Matt Miazga (CIN), Mohamed Farsi (CLB)
GK: Aljaz Ivacic (POR)
Coach: Steve Cherundolo (LAFC)
Bench: Drake Callender (MIA), Rodrigues (SJ), Sergi Palencia (LAFC), Mark-Anthony Kaye (TOR), Pablo Ruiz (RSL), Lucas Zelarayán (CLB), Thiago Almada (ATL), Jesús Ferreira (DAL), Diego Rubio (COL)
