The Colorado Rapids (3-2-0, 9 pts., 5th West) take home all three points on the road against Sporting Kansas City (1-3-1, 4 pts., 13th West) on Saturday night at Sporting Park.
Heading into the night, the Rapids had their eyes on bouncing back from their most recent result and getting back to their winning ways.
Colorado began the match on the front foot, controlling all phases of the game and keeping the home side on their heels. Solid play from the back line and strong link up play kept the Rapids as the aggressor, eventually leading to the club striking first for the third time in the young MLS season.
Starting the play was Rafael Navarro, who played a slick pass behind his back with the outside of his foot to find a streaking Darren Yapi. The Homegrown then drove down the left side of the pitch before playing a sharp pass to Paxten Aaronson in the middle of the box. Aaronson then took a shot with one touch to notch the Rapids first of the night.
From there, the Rapids maintained their hold on the match for a majority of the first half. It wouldn’t be until the dying moments of the first 45 minutes that SKC found their best opportunity of the match. Shapi Suleymanov managed to equalize in the 44th minute, but Colorado had an answer of their own shortly after.
Colorado’s chance originated from a corner kick that gave the KC goalkeeper issues. Following a misplay, midfielder Wayne Frederick was in the perfect position to tap home the loose ball and retake the lead for the Rapids. The goal marked the first of Frederick’s MLS career.
The Rapids took that lead into the halftime break and did not look back.
Kansas City managed to create pressure out of the break, but it did not amount to anything as the second half was all Rapids.
In the 71st minute, play started in the middle of the pitch with Rafael Navarro setting the pace. The forward played a pass to Aaronson, who quickly sent Miguel Navarro on a run down the left side of the pitch. The defender then sent a perfect cross on the ground to Rafael Navarro, who tapped home the finish to give his side a two-goal cushion.
The goal was Rafael Navarro’s 31st as a member of the Rapids, moving him into a tie with Cole Bassett and Chris Henderson for the sixth most in club history. The Brazilian has now recorded five goal contributions in his last three matches (3g, 2a).
Colorado would add one more insurance tally before the final whistle, with Aaronson finding the scoresheet yet again. In the 75th minute, winger Dante Sealy started the play with a lofted ball over the SKC defense to find R. Navarro. After taking a soft touch, the striker sent a quick pass at the top of the box to Aaronson, who slotted home his second of the night to record his first career brace.
With the assist, Rafael Navarro recorded his first multi-assist game as a member of the Rapids. Sealy’s assist on the goal marked his second of the season and the fifth of his MLS career.
That would be all the scoring for the match, with Colorado taking home all three points for the first time this season on the road. Aaronson and Frederick’s goals marked the sixth and seventh different goal scorers for the Rapids this season, which is tied with NYCFC for the second most in all of MLS.
Colorado will remain on the road following the international break for a matchup with Toronto FC on Saturday, April 4. Kickoff at BMO Field is set for 11:00 a.m. MT with coverage available on Apple TV, Altitude Sports Radio, Tico Sports Spanish Radio, ColoradoRapids.com, and the Colorado Rapids app.
