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Our Colorado Rapids continue to build their confidence at home and successfully defend Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, picking up a much-needed three points last night.
The beginning of the game was less-than-exciting, but things picked up quickly. Kevin Doyle nabbed the first goal 21 minutes in, and then Erick “Cubo” Torres put one past Tim Howard at 45’+4’ to tie it up going into the half. The Rapids came out strong in the second half, and Marlon Hairston got a brace as he put the Burgundy Boys up 3-1 by the final whistle. Kevin Doyle and Dominique Badji were involved in all three goals, and it seemed like the offense clicked, especially with Mohammed Saeid and Bismarck “Nana” Boateng holding down the midfield. Howard also came up with some big saves to keep the Rapids in the game.
With the win last night, the Rapids jumped over Real Salt Lake and Minnesota United in the standings to 9th place. The ‘Pids (6-10-1, 19 points) are just three points behind the Seattle Sounders and the Vancouver Whitecaps, and just four points behind LA Galaxy, who is sitting just above the line in 6th place.
Thank the soccer gods that the Western Conference is terrible this year. But also, let’s beat Seattle on Tuesday and finish out this ridiculous schedule with a couple wins.
HIGHLIGHTS
Watch the highlights here.
MATCH SUMMARY
Final Score: Colorado Rapids 3 - Houston Dynamo 1
Date: Saturday, July 1, 2017
Venue: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park - Commerce City, CO
Referee: Sorin Stoica
Assistants: Jeremy Hanson, Anthony Vasoli
Fourth Official: Alex Chilowicz
Attendance: 13,774
***
SCORING SUMMARY
21’ - COL - Kevin Doyle (Dillon Serna, Dominique Badji)
45’+4’ - HOU - Erick Torres (A.J. DeLaGarza)
48’ - COL - Marlon Hairston (Dominique Badji, Kevin Doyle)
69’ - COL - Marlon Hairston (Kevin Doyle, Dominique Badji)
***
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
4’ - COL - Mike da Fonte (unsporting behavior)
82’ - COL - Sam Hamilton (unsporting behavior)
***
LINEUPS & STATS
Colorado:Tim Howard; Dennis Castillo, Eric Miller, Mike da Fonte, Mekeil Williams; Marlon Hairston (Caleb Calvert 77’), Nana Boateng (Sam Hamilton 74’), Mohammed Saeid, Dillon Serna; Dominique Badji (Jared Watts 89’), Kevin Doyle
Substitutes not used: Zac MacMath, Kortne Ford, Ricardo Perez, Alan Gordon
Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 5
Corners: 0 (Wow, I didn’t even realize this during the game.)
Passing Accuracy: 82%
Possession: 44.5%
Fouls: 5
Offsides: 1
Clearances: 25
Saves: 6
*
Houston: Joe Willis; A.J. DeLaGarza, Adolfo Machado, Leonardo, DaMarcus Beasley; Ricardo Clark (Vicente Sanchez 78’), Juan David Cabezas (Alex 65’), Boniek Garcia; Andrew Wenger (Joseph Holland 90’+1’), Erick Torres, Mauro Manotas
Substitutes not used: Tyler Deric, Jalil Anibaba, Dylan Remick, Memo Rodriguez
Total shots: 13
Shots on goal: 7
Corners: 10
Passing Accuracy: 82%
Possession: 55.5%
Fouls: 9
Offsides: 0
Clearances: 9
Saves: 2
POST-GAME QUOTES
“I think the response after halftime was exactly what the group needed. It really drove the group with that goal and found a third. Overall, it was a fantastic performance in preparation for this next game on Tuesday. A good bounce-back performance after two difficult road matches.”
“Everyone wants to score, especially being a forward, but sometimes you just have to be the man creating those passes.”
“Tuesday is going to be another tough game for us against the defending champs. We’re not going to take it lightly but we’re confident in our ability to win games here at home. We’re going to need our fans to be great again on Tuesday.”