The Colorado Rapids split the second preseason matchup against Seattle Sounders FC into two 75-minute scrimmages on Tuesday afternoon, playing to a 1-1 draw in the first match and topping Seattle 2-0 in the second at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona.
The condensed scrimmages with the Sounders were the second of three contests the Rapids will face in Tucson during their preseason stint. The two sides haven't met since October 2021 when they battled to the same score at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park.
In the first scrimmage, the Rapids held the offensive advantage in the first half as strikers Jonathan Lewis, Michael Barrios and Diego Rubio created chance after the chance in the box, connecting in the final third but unlucky in the box until late in the half. Winger Lucas Esteves outplayed two Sounders in the midfield to drive the ball up the left side, connect with Rubio and eventually slot the ball past Seattle’s Stefan Frei to take the first point of the scrimmage and put Colorado up by one.
Despite taking the lead in the first half, Colorado was unable to hold onto it when a Danny Wilson clearance was deflected by the Seattle defense and slipped past William Yarbrough for the equalizer in the 69th minute. The final minutes of the shortened scrimmage were not enough for either side to take the advantage and left the result as a draw.
In the second scrimmage between the sides, a fresh lineup was introduced including Rapids Academy players, 2022 MLS SuperDraft and veteran Rapids squad members.
Homegrown strikers Darren Yapi and Dantouma “Yaya” Toure controlled the final third early on as the two found multiple connections in and around the box. Yapi found assistance from the wings as full back Steven Beitashour’s cross into the box was easily picked off by the 17-year-old and slotted into the back of the net in the first ten minutes of the scrimmage.
Minutes later, Toure drew a foul in the Sounders’ box to set Yapi up for the penalty kick, which he neatly put away to double the Rapids’ lead. Colorado held onto the 2-0 advantage for the remainder of the game to take the second result against the Sounders.
Like Colorado’s first preseason matchup against Sporting Kansas City, goalkeepers Yarbrough and Clint Irwin saw equal time in the net on Tuesday, Yarbrough spending all 75 minutes in the Rapids’ box in the first scrimmage and Irwin keeping the shutout in the second.
The Burgundy Boys will face Houston Dynamo FC next on Saturday, February 5 at 4 p.m. MT before heading to Orlando to take on Orlando City SC on February 11. The matchup with Houston will be livestreamed on coloradorapids.com/live and only available to residents within the Rapids’ local broadcast territory.
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Scrimmage 1 Starting XI: William Yarbrough (GK), Auston Trusty, Danny Wilson, Lalas Abubakar, Keegan Rosenberry, Lucas Esteves, Collen Warner, Jack Price (C), Jonathan Lewis, Michael Barrios, Diego Rubio
Substitutes: Oliver Larraz (55’), Anthony Markanich (55’)
Scrimmage 2 Starting XI: Clint Irwin (GK), Steven Beitashour, Drew Moor, Michael Edwards, Daniel Garcia, Anthony Markanich, Oliver Larraz, Philip Mayaka, Dantouma Toure, Darren Yapi, Sebastian Anderson
Substitutes: Connor Miller (46’), Robinson Aguirre (46’), Mohamed Omar (46’), Roberto Molina (46’)
