Diego Rubio’s game-winning strike on Decision Day earned the Colorado Rapids their third straight victory to close out the regular season and Rubio a spot on the MLS Team of the Week for Week 24.
With the game tied 1-1 in stoppage time, Rubio took a pass from Cole Bassett in midfield and darted towards goal. The Chilean cut to the inside to beat his defender and curled his shot inside the far post, lifting the Rapids into fifth place in the Western Conference ahead of their first playoff appearance since 2016. It was Rubio’s third goal of the season and comes in a stretch of a goal and two assists in four games.
Rubio was also named to the Team of the Week in Week 11 after scoring two goals and an assist in Colorado’s 5-0 thrashing of Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium.
The Rapids have been consistent selections to the MLS Team of the Week recently. In Week 22, Andre Shinyashiki and Sam Vines were named to the starting XI, while Robin Fraser was named Coach of the Week for orchestrating Colorado’s 3-1 win over Seattle. Vines was selected again in Week 23, along with Kellyn Acosta and Danny Wilson, after the Rapids’ 1-0 win at Portland to clinch a playoff berth.
Team of the Week (3-4-3, right to left): Evan Bush (MTL) - Jonathan Mensah (CLB), Jakob Glesnes (PHI), Winston Reid (SKC) - Hany Mukhtar (NSH), Jose Andres Martinez (PHI), Emanuel Reynoso (MIN), Kevin Molino (MIN) - Romell Quioto (MTL), Fredy Montero (VAN), Valentin Castellanos (NYC)
Coach: Jim Curtin (PHI)
Bench: Ryan Meara (RBNY) - Mikey Ambrose (MIA), Lewis Morgan (MIA), Jamiro Monteiro (PHI), Nicolas Lodeiro (SEA), Diego Valeri (POR), Diego Rubio (COL)
The Team of the Week presented by Audi is voted on by the MLSsoccer.com editorial staff.
