Game Recap: Colorado Rapids 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1

The Colorado Rapids played well in the first half and had a slight edge over the San Jose Earthquakes in the beginning of the game. After a soft penalty in the second half that allowed the Quakes to even it up, they went down to 10 men after a straight red was issued to Shea Salinas in the 88th minute. Nana Boateng scored in the third of four minutes of stoppage time to put the Rapids up 2-1 and get the win.

First Half

Kellyn Acosta took a short corner and Sam Nicholson passed it right back to him. Acosta served a ball into the box and both Kortne Ford and Tommy Smith went up for it, but Smith got his head on it and put it past San Jose keeper Andrew Tarbell to put the Rapids up 1-0 in the 24th minute.

Just a couple of minutes later, the Quakes get a shot of their own but Tim Howard came up with a huge one-handed save.

After a bit of back and forth, Anthony Hudson decided to sub out Martinez and bring in Dillon Serna as the 10.

Second Half

San Jose came out with a little more intensity in the second half and in the 57th minute, Magnus Eriksson drew a foul in the box, supposedly on Ford. It didn’t seem super clear in the replay whether there was contact or not. Eriksson converted the penalty to tie up the game 1-1.

Colorado had a few chances later in the second half, and San Jose’s Shea Salinas got a straight red after Serna brought him down on a tactical foul and a brawl ensued. Serna got a yellow card, but the Quakes played down a man for the last couple of minutes.

In the third minute of stoppage time, the ‘Pids charged up the field and Edgar Castillo sent in a perfectly paced ball to Nana Boateng, who put it in far post and earned his club all three points.

Additional Notes from Post-Game

Anthony Hudson said that Dillon Serna was subbed in to “inject some energy” into the game. Didn’t seem to be a slight on Enzo.

I asked about Yannick Boli and Hudson basically said that everyone else has been playing so well that Boli just lost his spot.