Albuquerque, New Mexico - The Colorado Rapids fell by a 2-1 score to Mexican First Division club Santos Laguna in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Friday night in an international friendly match. Kevin Harbottle curled a 30-yard free kick into the top corner in the 12th minute, but Santos struck back five minutes later before scoring the game-winner in minute 77. The match was played front of an energetic, largely pro-Santos crowd at the University of New Mexico’s University Stadium.
Harbottle’s goal was impressive, as he got both power and accuracy on his left-footed strike from 30 yards out in the middle of the field. The Chilean winger’s shot cleared the wall before eluding both a defender and goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez to find the top corner of the near post. The crowd gave Harbottle a loud ovation as the Rapids celebrated the goal.
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Santos came back minutes later when a long ball was played over the top of the defense to forward Alonso Escoboza, who brought the ball under control before lofting a shot over Matt Pickens from a tough angle to tie the game. Both teams had chances on headers before the end of the half, but Santos’ Eduardo Herrera and Colorado’s Jaime Castrillón both put their shots directly at the opposing goalkeepers.
The second half saw fewer chances for both teams, and was even in terms of possession for the first 15 minutes of the second session. By the 64th minute, Santos had changed all 11 players that started the match, and with the Rapids having just five field players to enter as subs, the Mexican side took advantage of the fresher legs. Another breakaway gave Santos the 2-1 lead with 13 minutes remaining when Nestor Calderón got played behind the defense and finished calmly past Pickens.
For Colorado, the match got several players valuable minutes against quality competition, especially goalkeeper Pickens, who played his first match since suffering a broken arm on March 16. Pickens made several saves, and also ventured into traffic to catch and punch clear Santos crosses. The Rapids also played the final 15 minutes with all three of the team’s Homegrown Players on the field, with Davy Armstrong, Shane O’Neill and Dillon Serna all playing in the match.
The Rapids now turn their attention back to the MLS regular season, with the New England Revolution visiting Dick’s Sporting Goods Park next Wednesday, July 17 at 7:00 p.m.
Scoring Summary:
COL - Kevin Harbottle 12'
SAN - Alonso Escoboza 17'
SAN - Néstor Calderón 77'
Colorado Rapids lineup: Matt Pickens, Brian Mullan (Brenton Griffiths 66’), Marvell Wynne, Germán Mera (Davy Armstrong 76’), Anthony Wallace, Nick LaBrocca, Shane O’Neill, Tony Cascio (Jamie Smith 58’), Jaime Castrillón (Kamani Hill 64’), Kevin Harbottle, Danny Mwanga
Substitutes not used: Steward Ceus
Santos Laguna lineup: Oswaldo Sanchez (Julio Gonzalez 46’), Oswaldo Alanís (Sergio Ceballos 64’), Marc Crosas (Pablo Rodriguez 64’), Mauro Cejas (Mario Cárdenas 46’), Nestor Araujo (Felipe Baloy 46’), Eduardo Herrera (Oribe Peralta 64’), Luis Vasquez (Osmar Mares 46’), Herbert Robinson, Gael Sandoval (Darwin Quintero 46’), Javier Abella (Cesar Ibañez 64’), Alonso Escoboza (Nestor Calderón 64’)
Substitutes not used: Juan Pablo Rodriguez
