COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - Colorado Rapids 2 (11-1-4, 40 pts) will face off against their Rocky Mountain Cup rivals Real Monarchs (6-9-2, 21 pts) for the first time this season on Friday, July 14. Kickoff at Zions Bank Stadium is set for 8 p.m. MT and the game will be broadcast through MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Rapids 2 is coming off its fourth draw of the season in a match that saw Colorado fight for a 1-1 result against Whitecaps FC 2 at BC Place. The team ended the night with two points after winning the MLS NEXT Pro shootout in a 4-3 victory thanks to two massive penalty kick saves from goalkeeper Adam Beaudry. Beaudry’s performance in net during the shootout earned him the MLS NEXT Pro Rising Star of Matchday 16 honors.
The first half of the Saturday afternoon match was dominated by the Rapids front line with Marlon Vargas and Oliver Larraz testing the skills of the Whitecaps’ keeper from the jump. The team maintained possession well against the home side and created multiple opportunities to find the back of the net with seven shots in the first 45 minutes.
It was the Whitecaps that finally broke the scoreline in the 38th minute with a shot from far outside the box to give Vancouver the first half advantage.
After a scoreless first half for Rapids 2, the pressure was mounting for the team to find its equalizer. First team midfielder Larraz was the first to get off a shot on goal in the 52nd minute, which was parried away by the Whitecaps’ keeper.
In the 62nd minute, forward Rémi Cabral stepped onto the pitch and immediately gave Colorado its best opportunity of the match off a through ball into the box from Vargas. Larraz was able to collect the rebound off of Cabral’s shot for a second look at goal that was also handled nicely by the goalkeeper.
Minutes later, Larraz found Yosuke Hanya on the outside of the box to give the Rapids 2 midfielder a chance to put a shot on target. A Whitecaps’ defender came in with a sliding save, however Cabral was able to find the rebound and placed it calmly past the defense and into the back of the net for the team’s much-needed equalizer in the 69th minute.
The half continued with more promising opportunities for the Rapids and a handful of crucial saves from the Colorado defense. With neither team able to find the go ahead goal, the two sides faced a MLS NEXT Pro shootout, which ended in a positive result for Colorado.
Heading into Week 17 of the MLS NEXT Pro season, Colorado continues to remain unbeaten on the road with a 6-0-2 away record. Rapids 2 will look to continue their winning ways on Friday night against their biggest rivals in the West who have dropped more games at home than on the road so far this season.
Following the Rocky Mountain clash, Rapids 2 will compete in a mid-season international match against Bundesliga’s TSG Hoffenheim U23 on Tuesday, July 18, at 8 p.m. MT at Zions Bank Stadium. This is the second season in which Rapids 2 has been invited to participate in the MLS NEXT Pro Invitational, a competition that hosts international sides in friendly contests against MLS NEXT Pro sides. This year’s invitational will see TSG Hoffenheim U23 and Premier League 2 side Crystal Palace U21 take on Real Monarchs and Whitecaps FC 2 alongside Rapids 2. The full schedule for the MLS NEXT Pro Invitational can be found here.
