COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - Colorado Rapids 2 (15-2-5, 54 pts) will face off against Timbers2 (9-13-1, 28 pts) at Providence Park on Sunday, August 27. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. MT and the game will be broadcast through MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Rapids 2’s latest match against LAFC2 saw the team put away four goals over the course of regulation to earn its 15th win of the season. The 4-0 victory also saw goalkeeper Abraham Rodriguez earn his third clean sheet and the team’s seventh of the season.
The game kicked off in just the third minute when Rémi Cabral forced a deflection in the box for the first corner kick opportunity of the night. Midfielder Oliver Larraz stood over the ball and placed it perfectly in the six-yard box where Blake Malone found the header for his fourth goal of the season. The assist from Larraz marked his eighth of the season, boosting him to first place in the league’s assists chart for the 2023 season.
The early goal gave the Rapids the momentum it needed to continue to push for more first half goals. In the 17th minute, Cabral was fouled just outside of the box to give Larraz another opportunity to deliver on a set piece. The ball found its way into the box, taking some deflections before Cabral found a chance to punch it into the back of the net on a close range shot.
Minutes later, the Frenchman found his second and the team’s third goal of the night when Jackson Travis positioned a cross over the top of the LAFC backline. Cabral let the ball take a bounce before hitting it on the half volley to bring his season total to 12 goals.
The team entered the second half up by three goals, however the LAFC attack came in on the front foot for the remaining 45 minutes. Rodriguez, who wasn’t asked to make a save during the first half, would go on to record five saves in the second half to keep the visitors scoreless on the night.
The final offensive action for the Rapids came in the 86th minute off a turnover in the midfield. Daouda Amadou collected a poor pass in the midfield and directed a through ball to the feet of Dillon Serna. Serna picked up his head and found Yosuke Hanya who received the pass in the box and immediately turned to face the goal to put away the fourth and final goal of the night. The goal marked Hanya’s 12th of the season, tying him with Cabral for most goals on the team and a fourth place standing in the league overall for goals scored.
As the Rapids head into the last five matches of the season, the team currently sits in first place in the Western Conference and the league overall. Having already punched their ticket to the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs, the focus will remain on improving their regular season record and continuing their winning ways heading into a competitive postseason run.
