Rapids 2 earned its first three points of the season in a 3-1 win over Timbers2 on Sunday afternoon at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.
"I thought the boys did really well today. We had a game plan, and we went out and executed it. I mean we ended up getting the three points and getting the result. That is what we really needed for the club to get some confidence back because we haven't been performing as well as we have been wanting to. So, to come out today and get three points was really big for us,” said Rapids 2 defender Jackson Travis.
Colorado arrived to the pitch on Sunday with the goal of taking home its first three points of the season against the visiting Timbers2 squad. The team started the first half strong, controlling 53% of possession while creating multiple chances in and around the box with six shots on goal. The first goal of the night came to fruition in the 6th minute of the match when a Jackson Travis through ball found its way to Yosuke Hanya’s feet who netted the ball with finesse into the back of the Timbers’ goal. Minutes later, first team loan Collen Warner found the back of the net after collecting a rebound off the post from an Omar Gomez header off of a Rapids 2 set piece.
“Two goals in the first 10 minutes is a decent start. Now, our confidence has grown and perhaps the opponent now is on a bit of a back foot. I thought we were able to sustain our soccer throughout the first 45 minutes. It is a trap to come in when you know you are doing well, and the score is in your favor. So, to go back out and remember the game is 90 minutes long takes a lot of concentration. It takes a lot of drive really,” said Rapids 2 head coach Erik Bushey.
Heading into the second half, the Rapids continued to maintain control of the ball but were receiving some enhanced pressure from the visiting side. With three points on the line, Rapids 2 forward Darren Yapi put the nail in the coffin when he received a long through ball from Jackson Travis to conclude Colorado’s scoring for the afternoon.
“The more guys you have who are feeling it and who are confident in possession, the better the game is going to be,” said Bushey. “So, both Vlad (Walent) and Yosuke (Hanya) played an excellent role in that. They are both very aggressive players, both guys that will look to break the line without the ball. Yosuke for sure has a wonderful ability, even in our own third, to dribble himself out of pressure and all of sudden shift the pressure to the opponent. So, really wonderful stuff from Yapi (Darren) up high and his finishing and then the presence that Yosuke and Vlad added, it was good. And that's why it was a good team performance."
Rapids 2 kept applying offensive pressure throughout the half, but the persistent Portland side found its way through the back line in the 85th minute to shut down the home side’s clean sheet. Rapids first team loan Clint Irwin still managed to record three saves during the match, keeping the score in favor of the home team.
With today’s performance, Yosuke Hanya now leads the Rapids 2 team in goals scored with two and Jackson Travis has marked himself as the leader in assists with two to his name. Rapids 2 will hit the road this weekend to take on Houston Dynamo 2 on Sunday, May 8 at AVEVA Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT.
