COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — After rallying to an important draw on the road last weekend, the Colorado Rapids (5-8-5, 20 pts) will host Orlando City SC (8-7-4, 28 pts) in a midweek matchup at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park on Wednesday, July 13 (7 p.m. MT; Altitude Sports, Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM).
Colorado enters Wednesday’s contest following a 2-2 draw over the weekend against Real Salt Lake in the second leg of the annual Rocky Mountain Cup. After going down 2-0 shortly into the second half, the Rapids cut their deficit in half when Diego Rubio scored his team-leading eighth goal of the year via a penalty kick in the 67th minute. Lalas Abubakar then spoiled RSL’s plans for a second time this season when he lobbed in a headed pass from Gyasi Zardes in the 89th minute to rescue a point for his side; the Ghanaian defender had previously scored the game-tying goal in the Rapids’ 1-1 draw against Salt Lake in April. Abubakar’s equalizer also marked a new single-season career high for the center back who now has three goals in his 2022 account. Midfielder Bryan Acosta, who delivered an assist on Abubakar’s goal, reached two consecutive matches with an assist.
Wednesday’s game will be the first time Colorado and Orlando face off since March 2020. The Rapids came away with the victory in that occasion, a 2-1 win at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park. Keegan Rosenberry delivered a pass to Younes Namli who skillfully maneuvered around four players to score Colorado’s opening goal in the 64th minute. Orlando leveled the match in the 82nd minute when Chris Mueller found the back of the net on the break before Drew Moor headed in the game-winning goal in stoppage time from a Jack Price corner kick.
Orlando enters the midweek match following a 1-0 victory over Inter Miami CF at home courtesy of a Damion Lowe own goal in second half stoppage time, which was the first time a player in MLS history scored a stoppage time own goal in a 1-0 loss. The Lions have not registered a clean sheet or a win in their previous three road matches (one loss, two draws). Designated Player Ercan Kara leads Orlando with seven goals in his 2022 account, while Uruguayan midfielder Mauricio Pereyra has been the top provider for the club with nine assists this season. Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese has recorded seven clean sheets on the season.
