Quick Read
The Colorado Rapids won their third preseason scrimmage of 2021 on Saturday, defeating Sporting Kansas City 1-0. Drew Moor scored the only goal on a header from Nicolás Mezquida’s corner delivery. Colorado has not allowed a goal in 180 minutes of preseason action. The Rapids will continue training this week before facing USL Championship side New Mexico United on March 27.
Reaction
“The fact that we didn’t concede a goal was excellent, given the way the game went early on. We had our moments where we were quite good. But the moments were too few and far between. But the group knows that and knows they need to expect more of themselves. Again, there were good moments, and the highlight of it is that, in spite of not playing particularly well, we didn’t concede.” - Head coach Robin Fraser
“There’s a lot of takeaways we can have from this. A lot of learning points we can have from this. Which is good, it’s preseason, so you shouldn’t be perfect at this stage, you shouldn’t be flying. So it’s good to have a game like this where you stay in it, get the result, but there’s a lot of things takeaways and things to improve on in the next game.” - Cole Bassett
“You want to win games. Whether it’s a friendly preseason game or a playoff game. You want to establish that winning mentality and that winning culture. Mentality was the first word Robin said in our prematch meeting and it was the last word he said in our prematch meeting. Setting the tone and a good mentality.” - Drew Moor
Play by Play
Follow the play by play LIVE during every preseason matchup right here on ColoradoRapids.com
Today's Starting XI: William Yarbrough, Keegan Rosenberry, Lalas Abubakar, Danny Wilson, Steven Beitashour, Jack Price, Younes Namli, Kellyn Acosta, Michael Barrios, Andre Shinyashiki, Cole Bassett.
The Rapids are wearing their burgundy kits today opposite Sporting's gray tops with black shorts. Bassett starts as a winger, a unique opportunity for the 19-year-old who just returned from international duty.
1' - Aaaand they’re off!
6' - SKC fires a shot, but it's stopped by the post.
10' - Rapids unable to make much of possession early on.
18' - Abubakar blocks a shot, Rosenberry blocks the rebound, and Abubakar blocks a second to force a corner for Sporting. Shinyashiki heads the corner away, and the Rapids clear the pressure.
20' - Good spell of possession, as the team is finding the game a bit more. Bassett runs into space on the wing and gets a cross in. SKC clears, but Colorado keeps possession.
22' - Barrios and Bassett are both finding space on the wings and in behind as the team gains more rhythm.
28' - Barrios is making his presence known on both sides of the field. He chases his man into the Rapids' own corner, wins the ball and carries it up the field.
31' - CARD - Abubakar makes an important stop on Pulido who was on the break, and the defender earns a yellow card. Pulido takes the free kick from 25-yards out, and Bassett blocks it from the wall.
37' - Abubakar continues to follow Pulido all over the field. The two have a lively discussion, as Pulido yanks Abubakar by the jersey.
39' - Colorado presses, forcing SKC to turn it over. Barrios picks up a loose ball at the top of the box, but his attempt is just wide of the far post. Both sides have had good chances, and the contest continues to be an even matchup.
40' - SKC gets a free kick at the corner of the box. Busio stands over it for an in swinger, but his attempt goes over.
45' - Pulido’s attempt almost hits us up in the tree house! (press box)
45' + 1' - Halftime
46' - SUBSTITUTION - Braian Galvan enters the match for Barrios and Clint Irwin for Yarbrough. They face a completely fresh SKC side, and the second half is underway.
49' - Rapids earn back-to-back corners to start the half. On the second, Price finds Abubakar, but he is well covered by Sporting.
50' - There's some madness in Colorado’s box, but SKC can’t get a shot off.
53' - Galvan makes a brilliant run in behind, Price hits him with a long ball, and Colorado earns a corner. The corner is short to Galvan, who curls it in for Wilson, but his header is wide. Colorado continues with the ball.
55' - Galvan gets it again, slips it through for Acosta, but his attempt from distance is high.
56' - Galvan continues to make a lot of noise since entering the game. He beats his guy. And again. He curls it for the far post, but no one is home.
57' - The Rapids nearly sink their best look of the contest. Rosenberry skips it to the corner for Galvan, who crosses it for Price, and his volley deflects off the bar. The attempt was on the edge of the box at hip height. What a goal it would’ve been.
60' - Wholesale changes for Colorado. Galvan and Irwin stay in. The new lineup: Clint Irwin, Michael Edwards, Kortne Ford, Drew Moor, Jeremy Kelly, Collen Warner, Oliver Larraz, Nicolas Mezquida, Braian Galvan, Darren Yapi, Yaya Toure.
66' - Yapi making a lot of good runs. This group is moving well to start.
77' - SUBSTITUTION - Matt Hundley comes in for Galvan.
78' - SKC turns it over. The ball falls for Toure at the top of the box, and the Sporting 'keeper makes a good one-on-one save. Rapids corner.
79' - GOAL - Moor heads it home near post after Mezquida's service from corner. Mezquida is deserving of the assist after good work on the press in the lead up. 1-0 Rapids.
83' - Larraz is in good form. He has a brilliant turn and switch to Hundley.
84' - Warner with some great one-on-one defending to earn a goal kick.
86' - Kelly chests it down, dribbles across the top of the area and lays off for Hundley. His shot is met with a comfortable save.
90' + 1' - The whistle is blown, and that's all from Arizona. Another Rapids victory.
FINAL: Rapids - 1, Sporting - 0
