COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - Colorado Rapids 2 (3-0-0, 9 pts) is coming off its third straight win as they head into their fourth match of the season against Earthquakes II (2-1-0, 6 pts) on Sunday, April 16, at PayPal Park. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. MT and the game will be broadcast through MLSNEXTPro.com.
“There is going to be a lot of soccer played between the boxes. There is going to be a lot of good and there will probably be some that could be critiqued,” said Erik Bushey, Rapids 2 head coach. “I think if we can defend our box well, defend our goal well and if we are brave enough to get forward and get into the attacking box by some spacing and timing and technique to execute, that is where the answers are going to be found. That is where the game result is going to reveal itself.”
Colorado is coming off a three point weekend that saw the team beat Portland Timbers2 in a 4-2 victory. The win, which brought the team’s record to 3-0-0, marked Rapids 2’s longest ever win streak in MLS NEXT Pro and boosted Colorado to a second place standing in the league’s power rankings.
The match against Portland saw a host of Rapids players break into their offensive stride, including first team forward Calvin Harris who recorded a brace on the night, marking his first-ever goal for the club. Joining him on the scoring charts was first team defender Michael Edwards who gave the team its game winning goal in the 75th minute off a free kick service from Oliver Larraz and an assist from Blake Malone. Newcomers Pariss Mitchell and Marlon Vargas also got in on the action adding their first assists of the season on Harris’ two goals.
Midfielder Yosuke Hanya continued to impress in the attacking third, earning his third goal of the season in last weekend’s match versus Timbers2. Hanya has had a breakthrough season thus far, adding a goal in each of the three matches and assisting on Caique de Brito’s game winning goal against Houston Dynamo 2.
Consistency on the pitch has also been exhibited by Blake Malone who currently leads the team with two assists. Malone also notably earned the team its first victory of the season after scoring the game winning goal against Sporting KC II in stoppage time.
The Rapids will travel to San Jose this weekend to face off in their second road match of the year. Earthquakes II currently boasts a 2-1-0 record with its one loss of the season occurring at home in last weekend’s match versus Real Monarchs.
San Jose has been a force in the defensive half, having put up two clean sheets in their first two matches of the season. The home side will look to redeem themselves this week as they head into their third home match of the season and look to boost their standing in the Western Conference.
