The Big Picture
The Colorado Rapids (3-10-8, 17 pts) rallied from a first-half deficit to earn a 2-1 win over FC Dallas (8-9-5, 29 pts) at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park on Saturday night. Danish defender Andreas Maxsø scored his first goal in Burgundy off a 31st-minute corner kick from Connor Ronan to level the score before Braian Galván scored a Panenka penalty kick to secure the win.
Notable
- D Andrew Gutman made his debut for the Rapids after being acquired in a trade with Atlanta United FC earlier this week.
- M Braian Galván scored his first goal of the 2023 season from a penalty in the 62nd minute, securing the game-winning goal. It was his first since August 14, 2021, after missing the entirety of the 2022 season due to an ACL injury.
- D Andreas Maxsø scored his first goal as a Rapids player in the 31st minute, leveling the match at 1-1. Maxsø joined the Rapids in January as a Designated Player after playing for Brøndby IF in the Danish Superliga for the past four seasons, where he also captained the team to the 2020-21 league title.
- M Connor Ronan assisted Andreas Maxsø's goal in the 31st minute, marking his seventh assist of the season.
- Tonight's win extended Colorado's winning streak at home against FC Dallas to six consecutive victories; the Rapids are unbeaten at home against Dallas since 2015 (6-0-4).
COLORADO RAPIDS HEAD COACH ROBIN FRASER
On the match:
“Obviously, elated to get this monkey off our back of not winning at home, but even more than just the three points, really happy with the performance of the team. I thought from the very beginning, we showed real intent. We're able to get in behind a few times and create some really dangerous opportunities. As I've said so many times, the difference is the precision in both boxes, and I felt like we're getting closer and closer to finishing a lot of these attacks. And I thought tonight was just again a reflection of the mentality of the team that they really came out with real intent, and you could see it, and how we were not only attacking but in terms of our defending, I thought was really good all night from the front and the back. It was just a really solid team effort and I'm really excited about getting this victory at home in front of these fans. We had a huge crowd and they've been coming out all year, and for us, it was really important to reward them and to thank them, and certainly, no better way to do it than by winning.”
On Rapids defender Andrew Gutman and his debut with the team:
“He's a runner. I thought it was very good. I thought he—his intent again to go forward, his desire to go forward is part of the whole group's kind of approach today, but I do think it's great when a player comes into a new situation at altitude and he just does what he does, which is he continues to look for places to get forward. He continues to put the opposing team under pressure by these runs and going forward and it was really interesting. I feel like for people who didn't know Andrew, for people who came to the stadium tonight who didn't know Andrew, you've got a very good look at what he is and what he does, which is a very aggressive, energetic, talented and smart, attacking fullback, and certainly happy to have him.”
COLORADO RAPIDS DEFENDER ANDREW GUTMAN
On the match:
“Crazy week, obviously. But you know, really happy to go into the team and help the team get three points tonight. So, yeah, it was a good result.”
On his first week with the team:
“Yeah, the altitude is definitely real. You know, it took a little bit to adjust. It's been good. It was obviously a whirlwind of a week, but I just tried to take everything in stride, tried to learn as much as I can. I know I have a lot to learn with understanding the players and the system, but to step in and help the team get three points tonight, that was huge. It looked like a sellout crowd. I don't know if it was, but the fans pushed us to get that second goal, and then kept pushing us to defend the lead and we were able to do it.”
On what he brings to the team:
“I think just a little bit of experience in leadership—certain moments of the game, how to manage it. Just being a solid player defensively and getting forward, and we still have almost half a season left to play. Anything can happen. I've been on teams where we've won seven in a row and we've shot into the playoffs, so just continuing to believe, continuing to push and train hard, and hopefully, we can turn the season around.”
