Axel Sjöberg and Kevin Doyle both found the net as the Colorado Rapids Soccer Club earned a 2-2 draw against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Playing their first home match in over a month, the Rapids conceded just five minutes in when Tony Tchani side-footed a first-time effort from outside the box past Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard. It was a quality strike from the six-foot-four Cameroonian midfielder as the burgundy boys found themselves facing an early deficit.
Undeterred, the Rapids equalized just ten minutes later through Swedish center back Sjöberg. After a cross from Shkëlzen Gashi was cleared out of harm’s way, Mohammed Saeid then lofted a ball to the back post off the head of Mike da Fonte and in to the path of the onrushing Sjöberg who tucked the ball through the legs of Whitecaps FC goalkeeper David Ousted.
The Rapids came out firing following the halftime break and nearly took the lead just two minutes in when Doyle bounced a point-blank header off the leg of Ousted.
With the match still level at the 54-minute mark, the Rapids sprung free on a counter attack, culminating in a clever back-heel pass from Marlon Hairston to Doyle. Not to be denied again, Doyle hammered his effort in to the back of the net giving the hosts a 2-1 lead.
As the game ebbed and flowed, the Whitecaps FC soon found an equalizer of their own. Fredy Montero beat the Rapids defense and latched on to a free kick to head home his ninth goal of the season.
Next up for the Rapids (6-12-3; 21 points) is a trip to Frisco, Texas. Kickoff with FC Dallas is set for 6:00 p.m. MT (Altitude) at Toyota Stadium.
BOX SCORE
Colorado Rapids 2-2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Dick’s Sporting Good Park; Commerce City, CO
Saturday, August 5, 2017
SCORING SUMMARY
VAN: Tony Tchani (unassisted) 5’
COL: Axel Sjöberg (unassisted) 15’
COL: Kevin Doyle (Marlon Hairston, Mohammed Saeid) 54’
VAN: Fredy Montero (Cristian Techera) 76’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
COL: Micheal Azira (caution) 45’+1’
COL: Eric Miller (caution) 68’
COL: Marlon Hairston (caution) 75’
Colorado Rapids: Tim Howard; Eric Miller (Alan Gordon 78’), Axel Sjöberg, Jared Watts, Mike da Fonte; Marlon Hairston, Micheal Azira (Nana Boateng 86’), Mohammed Saeid, Shkëlzen Gashi (Joshua Gatt 71’); Kevin Doyle, Dominique Badji.
Subs not used: John Berner, Kortne Ford, Dillon Serna, Caleb Calvert.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC: David Ousted; Sheanon Williams, Andrew Jacobson, Tim Parker, Jordan Harvey; Bernie Ibini (Cristian Techera 63’), Tony Tchani, Matias Laba, Christian Bolaños (Brek Shea 66’); Yordy Reyna; Fredy Montero (Erik Hurtado 84’).
Subs not used: Stefan Marinovic, Jake Nerwinski, Nicolás Mezquida, Russell Teibert.
ATTENDANCE: 15,625
TEAM RECORDS:
Colorado Rapids: 6-12-3 (21 points)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC: 9-8-4 (31 points)
