With just over a week to go until they kick off their 2023 MLS season, the Colorado Rapids earned a 3-1 win over USL Championship side Miami FC in a friendly played on Wednesday afternoon in Orlando, Florida.
Miami FC went ahead in the eighth minute via former FC Cincinnati forward Ben Mines, but the Rapids found an equalizer just ten minutes later through recent Designated Player signing Kevin Cabral. Ralph Priso and Max combined outside the box to spring Cabral through on goal and the Frenchman didn’t hesitate to level the game 20 minutes in.
The Rapids came close to breaking the deadlock on several occasions and finally found the go-ahead goal when Diego Rubio slotted home a cross from Sam Nicholson with less than a quarter hour to play.
2022 MLS SuperDraft pick Anthony Markanich added an insurance goal just three minutes later after getting on the end of a Connor Ronan cross in the box. Markanich’s header at the far post was initially saved by Miami’s goalkeeper, but the young leftback was quick to pounce on the rebound to seal the win for the Rapids.
The Burgundy Boys will play one more friendly during the final week of their preseason camp, against 2022 MLS Cup Runner-Up Philadelphia Union, on Saturday, before heading to Washington for their opening weekend match against Seattle Sounders FC on February 26 (6 p.m. MT; FS1, Apple TV – Free).
Scoring Summary:
8’ – MIA – Ben Mines
20’ – COL – Kevin Cabral (Max, Ralph Priso)
78’ – COL – Diego Rubio (Sam Nicholson)
81’ – COL – Anthony Markanich
Starting XI:
5. Andreas Maxsø
8. Max
15. Alex Gersbach
21. Bryan Acosta
26. Abraham Rodriguez
27. Sebastian Anderson
29. Braian Galván
64. Moise Bombito
77. Darren Yapi
91. Kevin Cabral
97. Ralph Priso
HT Substitutes:
14. Calvin Harris
22. William Yarbrough
31. Anthony Markanich
60th-Minute Substitutes:
2. Keegan Rosenberry
4. Danny Wilson
6. Lalas Abubakar
11. Diego Rubio
12. Michael Barrios
20. Connor Ronan
23. Cole Bassett
28. Sam Nicholson
