Colorado Rapids 2 (1-7-1, 5 pts) will face off against STL CITY2 (6-2-1, 19 pts) for the first time this season on Wednesday, June 8 at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT and the game will be broadcast on www.mlsnextpro.com.
“Another new opponent, which is exciting in itself,” said Rapids 2 Erik Bushey. “Coach Hackworth has been around a long time and is a very good coach. We expect a very well organized team. Again, probably a senior squad relative to what we have seen. Another very difficult game and we are excited about the match. Again, the next match can’t get here for us soon enough. We are looking for the next opportunity to play and compete and to change the trend if you will.”
Wednesday’s match versus STL CITY2 will mark Colorado’s second consecutive home game of the team’s three game homestand. The first match of the homestand saw Rapids 2 fall short to North Texas SC in a 1-3 defeat on Saturday, June 8. The match saw first team loan Darren Yapi net his third goal of the season in the 5th minute of the match, making Yapi the leader in goals for Rapids 2 this season. Scoring the lone goal in the match against Dallas, Yapi has now recorded two consecutive games with a goal with the first occurring in the team’s match against MNUFC2.
“Overall, I have just been enjoying my football,” said forward Darren Yapi. “I am trying to do the team principles more and more in terms of our hold up play runs, pressing and you know the main part is goal scoring for strikers. I am just enjoying it and I am still learning. There is still much more to go.”
Leading the team in minutes, midfielder Yosuke Hanya is the only remaining Rapids 2 player to have started in all nine matches this season. Hanya, who has recorded two goals and one assist for Colorado, also leads the team in completed dribbles. A standout among the Colorado backline, Jackson Travis currently holds the spot for the lead in assists with two this season in the team’s match versus Timbers2. Newcomer Daouda Amadou logged his first start of the season last weekend in the team’s game versus North Texas SC. In addition, Amadou took home his first Man of the Match award in the game against Dallas.
STL CITY2 will face the Rapids at home after recording a 2-0 shutout win to Houston Dynamo 2 last weekend. The new franchise, which has only recorded one loss this season to Whitecaps FC 2, sits in the middle of the Western Conference standings and has shown dominance in the defensive half having only conceded 11 goals.
To purchase tickets to this Saturday’s Rapids 2 match versus STL CITY 2, click here.
