Sporting Kansas City vs Colorado Rapids
MLS Regular Season, Week 29
September 21, 2019 - 6:30 PM
Children Mercy Park - Kansas City, Kansas
First loss under Fraser, Rosenberry shines...
Try as the Colorado Rapids (10-15-6, tenth in MLS Western Conference) might to storm the north and remain unbeaten in the Robin Fraser era, it was not meant to be. The boys in burgundy fell by a score of 3-2 to a Toronto FC side that Fraser had spent the previous four and a half years as an assistant. In his postgame remarks the Rapids head coach noted that though it felt strange being back on the opposite sidelines of the old stomping grounds, by midgame, it was just another match.
Despite the loss, it was a memorable night for defender Keegan Rosenberry who came away with his first goal in his 31 games spent in a Colorado uniform. In the 31st minute, the Pennsylvania native put one home between goalkeeper Quentin Westword’s legs after receiving the ball off of a nice give-and-go with Sam Nicholson. Rosenberry returned the favor in the 62nd minute when he found Sam Nicholson who played in a peachy cross that ended up finding the back of the net. Though Rosenberry was awarded another Team of the Week presented by Audi selection for his play Sunday, he described the night as “bittersweet”. “We’ve got to stop digging ourselves into these holes. Although, that is something that you want in a team, guys that are going to fight for one another [to come back from a deficit]. That’s something that [Fraser] has emphasized since day one,” said Rosenberry.
SKC hungry to turn around, Kamara/Rubio make returns...
Sporting Kansas City (10-13-7, ninth in MLS Western Conference) took a blow - though it was more like a blowtorch - on Sunday as they fell 7-2 to the LA Galaxy. Though the match was tied 1-1 going into the half, the Galaxy came out fast and strong in the second and the goals just started flowing. For SKC, the loss stung as it puts them ever-so further away from the coveted seventh-seed needed to make the playoffs. If the Kansas club misses as they’re so projected, it’ll be their first-time absent since 2010.
As both teams look to get back on track when the Rapids visit Children’s Mercy Park this Saturday, the match holds particular intrigue for a couple of exports on the away side. Striker Kei Kamara spent five productive seasons in Kansas City and it was there where his storied career and goalscoring ability rose to prominence. The match also marks the first time back for fellow Rapids forward Diego Rubio, who came over to Colorado from SKC via trade this past offseason. Notably, when Colorado hosted SKC earlier this season, Rubio found the goal against his former club. A betting man has to like the spicy Chilean’s chances of having a repeat performance as he makes his return to his initial MLS home.
