MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. (October 13, 2018) – For the first time since August 11th, the Colorado Rapids have won a game in league play. Behind a Yannick Boli goal, his first from the run of play in MLS, the Rapids defeated Minnesota United FC 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.
Victory at last: Yannick Boli goal ends Colorado Rapids losing streak in Minnesota
For the first time in what feels like months, the Rapids were by far the better team in a first half.
Just three minutes into the game, Angelo Rodriguez nearly opened the scoring. Running onto a poor back pass by Cole Bassett, he tried to chip goalkeeper Tim Howard but put it wide of goal. This match was the first ever start in MLS for 17-year-old rookie Cole Bassett.
Just five minutes later, the Rapids have several golden opportunities inside the six-yard box. Yannick Boli and Cole Bassett were both denied on glorious chances the Rapids could have scored on.
???#Rapids96 | #MINvCOL pic.twitter.com/Cv74Yot6Ub
— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) October 13, 2018
The Rapids went on to control the tempo the rest of the half with Dillon Serna, Boli, and Edgar Castillo all getting involved. Minnesota had one other good chance in the first half with an unmarked header for Darwin Quintero but he couldn’t get it on frame.
The Loons appeared to open the scoring in the 51st minute. Miguel Ibarra found Quintero on a run between the center backs who was able to bend the ball past Howard. The play was reviewed for an extended period of time by VAR and the goal was ultimately disallowed. While Quintero was onside on the pass before the goal, in the buildup it was determined that Rodriguez was off-sides during the build up.
Colorado got their goal in the 61st minute. Marlon Hairston delivered a perfect cross into the box. Boli headed it first time on the run into the back of the net to take the lead.
Minnesota amped up the pressure in the final half hour but could not find a goal, with a goal for Ibson being waved off by VAR with another case of Rodriguez being off-sides. Substitute Niki Jackson scored on the counter, chipping goalkeeper Matt Lampson to make it 2-0.
The match ended 2-0, giving the Loons their fifth home loss of the season and ending Colorado’s seven-game losing streak.
Three takeaways:
Losing streak over: Finally, the Rapids have won a game. The visitors turned possession into chances with multiple players contributing to the attack throughout the game. The midfield cutoff service to Quintero just enough and they did benefit from two VAR reviews.
Another poor performance: Manager Adrian Heath was very critical of the Loons after a blowout loss last week. They again performed poorly in this game. The offense took a while to get started and other than Quintero, the main attackers were quiet throughout the match. They didn’t adjust and deserved to lose. The disappointed was punctuated by a stoppage-time shoving match.
Tommy Smith was celebrating the goal near the Minnesota bench when staff and reserves confronted him, leading to players from both sides on the field rushing over. Smith and Harrison Heath were ultimately sent off.
Boli and Bassett: Boli scored his third goal of the season in all competition and just his second that was not a PK. Bassett made his debut start in the league and had some good moments.
