Colorado Rapids 2 fell 7-1 to Earthquakes II on Sunday night at PayPal Park in the team’s fourth road match of the season.
“You know, it can be a tough game,” said Rapids 2 head coach Erik Bushey. “It is a tough result. We have more to give. We made a lot of mistakes, and we are better than what we showed in portions of the game. It is also evidence of where we are individually, as a team and as a staff. We all walk away knowing we have work to do, and we can be better. Winning or losing, we know that we have to go back to work. So, the answers lie in training. We have to continue to embrace the value in training and we have to walk a fine line between dismissing the last 90 plus minutes and truly embracing the last 90 minutes. But regardless, we have to keep moving forward and that is the greatest challenge leaving this game."
The night kicked off in the first minute of the match as Earthquakes II took the lead after Eduardo Blancas collected a turnover and found the back of the Rapids net. Despite the early goal from the Quakes, Colorado maintained nice control of the ball, earning two set piece opportunities in the first four minutes of the match. However, a ninth minute goal from the home side’s Max Arfsten secured the team’s second of the night followed by another in the 21st minute to extend the lead to three. The final Quakes goal of the half saw
Will Richmond slot home a penalty kick past Rapids 2 goalkeeper Abraham Rodriguez, who made four saves in total on the night.
Down by four, Rapids 2 forward Yaya Toure managed to collect a loose ball in the 46th minute and navigated his way around goalkeeper Emmanuel Ochoa to send his second MLS NEXT Pro goal into the back of the net. The late first half goal gave the Rapids a bit of momentum heading into the half after recording three shots on goal and six corner kicks in 46 minutes.
“You know, I am grateful for our players and the work they put in, but there is more work we can do. You know, one of the messages at halftime is we are not going to simply work our way out of it. It was a situation that we had to think more, we had to problem solve, we had to find solutions and we cannot simply be warriors and work. You know, the two go hand in hand and I think that is another lesson from tonight. There is more in us both physically and mentally," said Bushey.
Heading into the second half, Earthquakes II’s Siad Haji quickly extended the team’s lead finding the back of the net in the 56th minute. Max Arfsten would add to the Quakes’ tally and his own with the team’s sixth goal and his second in the 67th minute. The seventh and final goal of the night was scored by Rodolfo Castro in the 88th minute.
"We have to have everyone give everything they got. It starts on the training pitch, and I think we all know it has to be better and we are all going to go out there and work hard," said Rapids 2 captain Abraham Rodriguez.
Rapids 2 will return home next week to take on Tacoma Defiance at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Sunday, May 22. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. MT following the Rapids first team match versus the Seattle Sounders.
