The Big Picture
Colorado Rapids 2 (6-0-1, 19 pts) beat LA Galaxy II (1-5-1, 5 pts) in a 5-0 victory tonight at Dignity Sports Health Park. Midfielder Yosuke Hanya recorded a brace on the night to bring his season total to seven goals. He now leads the league in goals scored, surpassing FC Cincinnati 2's Arquímides Ordóñez. Additional goal scorers for the night included Marlon Vargas, Daniel Garcia and Rémi Cabral, who all scored their first goals of the season in tonight's match. Academy goalkeeper Adam Beaudry was a star between the sticks, earning his first clean sheet of the season and the team's second this season. With tonight's win, Rapids 2 extended their unbeaten streak to seven matches as they continue to occupy a first place standing in the Western Conference and the league overall.
Notable:
- Rapids 2 secured its sixth win of the season in tonight's match versus LA Galaxy II in the team's highest scoring game in its two years in MLS NEXT Pro. The team currently occupies a first place standing in both the Western Conference and the league overall.
- Midfielder Marlon Vargas scored his first goal of the season in tonight's match versus LA Galaxy II.
- Midfielder Yosuke Hanya recorded a brace in tonight's match against LA Galaxy II. Hanya has scored in all six matches he has played in this season for a total of seven goals. He currently leads the league in goals scored with seven to his name, surpassing FC Cincinnati 2's Arquímides Ordóñez.
- Defender Daniel Garcia scored his first goal of the season in tonight's game versus LA Galaxy II.
- Forward Rémi Cabral scored his first goal of the season in tonight's game versus his former club LA Galaxy II.
- First team defender Alex Gersbach put up his first assist of the season for Rapids 2 in tonight's game versus LA Galaxy II.
- First team midfielder Oliver Larraz put up two assists in tonight's game versus LA Galaxy II. Larraz now leads the team in assists and is tied for second in the league for the lead in assists with four in total.
- Midfielder Marlon Vargas recorded his second assist of the season in tonight's match versus LA Galaxy II.
- Goalkeeper Adam Beaudry recorded his first clean sheet of the season.
- Rapids 2 earned its second clean sheet of the season in tonight's game versus LA Galaxy II.
- First team defender Moise Bombito made his Rapids 2 debut in tonight's match versus LA Galaxy II.
Postgame Media Availability:
Select postgame quotes transcribed below.
COLORADO RAPIDS 2 HEAD COACH ERIK BUSHEY
On the match:
“Well, clean sheet, which we never look past those, and always good to put the ball in the back of the net. So, for me, the start of the game wasn't actually — we weren't comfortable with the start of the game. I think it wasn't clean. The balls are on our foot maybe a little bit longer, and just something that we're really trying to emphasize and being clean in possession and up-tempo. And we had some great moments, but it took us a while to get into the game. The goal helped. I think the goal helps us settle the game down a bit, and then yeah, pretty positive performance. So, proud of the guys in the end because even though maybe it didn't start off in the best way, kind of persevered through that and knew that we had done well going into the halftime period, but that we could do better coming back out. And obviously, goals change games, red cards change games, and I'm proud of our guys for their discipline, and how they managed the 90 minutes. So, we're excited get another three points.”
On Yosuke Hanya's brace:
“Yeah, Yosuke being Yosuke. Really, that is it, and I think, well, almost every game except for the one he didn't play. I've talked about him getting rewarded by being on the score sheet at some level. And I don't think a whole lot has changed with (Yosuke) in terms of his impact within our group from last year to this year, but the fact is, he's putting the ball in the back of the net. He's creating goals, and so as I've talked about in most games, he's getting the reward for his performance over the course of 90 minutes. And so that's good for all of us, ultimately. (Yosuke) is really a model of consistency, and so that continued today.”
On keeping the team's momentum focused:
"Yeah, it's a good question because it's not easy, but I think we spoke about it midweek. Ultimately, we are here to progress individuals, and so, where they feel very good right now as a team, and, again, they should. Each time they step back on the field, they know that they're not where they want to be — at least not for their end goal. And where I do believe, and I'll continue to say it until they show otherwise, that we've been able to separate ourselves from some of the competition because we look like a team. And seven games, seven different lineups, that's just the way of the world. So, they feel good because we're winning. They're earning the right to feel good, but next game is another opportunity for the individual within that team to prove themselves and to take another step closer to achieving their goal. I can't think of a better motivation than that.”
COLORADO RAPIDS 2 FORWARD RÉMI CABRAL
On the match:
“It was really special to come back here for me. I am really happy with the win and the clean sheet. That is really good for the team. I am happy with my first goal, especially against my old team. Like my brother (Kévin Cabral), that is crazy."
On what it was like being back at LA Galaxy:
“It was really special. I was really happy to come back here. There were a lot of flashbacks and to see my old teammates, my trainer, it was really nice. My goal was really important for me because I want to beat them even if I like them, I want to beat them."
On his first goal of the season:
"To score a goal is always good, but especially your first one, you remember especially against your old team. That is really special."
On being the top team in the league:
"We feel strong, we feel confident. I think we deserve that because we put in a lot of work all throughout the week, week after week, game after game. We take game after game really important. We respect any team and we don't look back. We just finish one game and we return for the next game."
