Colorado Rapids

Designated Player Morgan Whittaker named to Team of the Matchday for game-winning performance against Vancouver

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Colorado Rapids Designated Player Morgan Whittaker catapulted the Rapids to a vital three-point performance in Matchday 32's contest with Vancouver Whitecaps over the weekend, earning the Englishman his second Team of the Matchday honor since arriving to Colorado in the summer transfer window. 

Whittaker's 81st-minute goal at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park proved the game-winner against the Western Conference leaders on Saturday night. The victory was crucial to keeping the Rapids' playoff hopes alive as the regular season quickly comes to a close.

The 25-year-old winger was in the right place at the right time late in the second half, as the Rapids built out of the back to bring the play into the final third, moving from Wayne Frederick, to Whittaker, to Sayed Abu Farkhi, who set forward Donavan Phillip up for the shot destined for the far post. Vancouver's goalkeeper parried the shot, but it couldn't clear the crossbar and instead dropped back down into in the six-yard box, where Whittaker and Frederick were waiting to finish the goal off. 

The total team effort out of the back and Whittaker's header into an open net was all it would take to secure the Rapids' victory at home.

This is Whittaker's second Team of the Matchday appointment after the winger's scored a brace against Seattle Sounders FC in September. 

Whittaker and the Rapids travel to the Bay Area to take on San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday, October 28. Kickoff for the match at PayPal Park is set for 8:30 p.m. MT with coverage available on Apple TV, Altitude Sports Radio, the Colorado Rapids app, and ColoradoRapids.com.

Team of the Matchday - Matchday 32

F: Sergi Solans (RSL), Petar Musa (DAL), Cédric Bakambu (SD)
M: Joseph Paintsil (LA), Dylan Chambost (CLB), Evander (CIN), Myrto Uzuni (ATX)
D: Osaze Urhoghide (DAL), Malte Amundsen (CLB), Dominik Marczuk (RSL)
GK: Matt Turner (NE)
Coach: B.J. Callaghan (NSH)
Bench: Jonathan Bond (HOU), Adri Mehmeti (RBNY), Anton Salétros (CHI), Jonathan Shore (NYC), Eric Izoita (POR), Carles Gil (NE), Morgan Whittaker (COL), Ariel Lassiter (POR), Martín Ojeda (ORL)

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