The FIFA Simulation--San Jose Earthquakes 0:1 Colorado Rapids

The Colorado Rapids and the San Jose Earthquakes open their 2016 season today in a clash held at Avaya Stadium.  As we prepare for this match, I ran the match through FIFA 2016 and the Rapids came away with a gritty 1-0 road win to start the season.  The Rapids were led by a gorgeous goal from distance for Kevin Doyle and a penalty kick save by Zac MacMath.  It was not the best brand of soccer you will see, but a win is a win and the Rapids start the season off on the right foot.

The Rapids Starting XI:

Zac MacMath, Eric Miller, Bobby Burling, Axel Sjoberg, Marc Burch, Micheal Azira, Sam Cronin, Dominique Badji, Shkelzen Gashi, Dillon Powers, Kevin Doyle

Match Facts:

8th Min--YELLOW CARD--Miller (Rapids) with the booking with a tackle from behind near the mid-line.

26th Min--CHANCE--The Quakes have a terrific chance but MacMath is up for it and tips it over the bar.

34th Min--YELLOW CARD--Doyle (Rapids) is booked for taking out the Quakes keeper, David Bingham

37th Min--CHANCE--The Rapids have their best look of the night with Doyle's shot saved and the Rapids get a corner kick.  The resulting corner kick finds its way out to Miller who finds his shot saved by Bingham.

48th Min--CHANCE--Gashi sees his low curling effort saved by Bingham.  Rapids grab a corner out of it

62nd Min--CHANCE--The Quakes have a free kick from a dangerous area that is headed out for a corner.

64th Min--GOAL--The Rapids score on the counter and Kevin Doyle buries it from about 19 yards.  What a blast from the Rapids Captain!

71st Min--YELLOW CARD--Gashi (Rapids) goes into the book with a rash challenge.  That is the third booking for the Burgundy Boys

72nd Min--SUBSTITUTION--the Rapids make their first change of the night with Dillon Serna coming on for Powers and Zach Pfeffer coming on for Azira.

77th Min--CHANCE--the Quakes have a beautiful chance and an open net but head it wide.  How did they miss???

77th Min--INJURY--Cronin pulls his calf and needs to be subbed out.  Jared Watts (it is) in for the Rapids.

78th Min--YELLOW CARD--Wow, Watts is booked just one minute into his shift.

84th Min--PENALTY KICK--Oh, no.  The Rapids surrender a penalty kick late in the match.  Burling with the foul.

84th Min--PENALTY SAVE!!!!!  MacMath with the MASSIVE save to preserve the 0-1 lead for the Rapids!  WOW!

The Statistics:

The Rapids and Quakes kick off for real on Altitude 2 at 1:00 PM MST today!