Game Recap: Vancouver Whitecaps 0, Colorado Rapids 1

A banger of a free kick from Diego Rubio made all the difference tonight as the Colorado Rapids defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 in Rio Tinto Stadium.

For the first 26 minutes, it was either side’s game to win as both offenses forced the goalkeepers (and their defenders) to put in work. Andre Shinyashiki has a couple of misses that he’ll surely want back while a bad pass from William Yarbrough nearly gave Déiber Caicedo his first MLS goal.

And then a Vancouver foul gave the Rapids a free kick at the top of the box around the 30-yard line in the 26th minute. Not only did Diego Rubio find the back of the net, he could not have placed the ball any better.

In the second half, referee Baldomero Toledo initially awarded Vancouver a penalty kick and it seemed as though the home side was going to get an opportunity to level it up. After VAR Allen Chapman initiated a review, Toledo watched the play several times and decided there was not, in fact, a foul.

The Whitecaps weren’t able to find the equalizer and the Burgundy Boys earned their first win of the regular season — and another win in Rio Tinto.