COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (June 1, 2019) – The Colorado Rapids have a third win on the season and are now unbeaten in four straight. Thanks to goals from Andre Shinyashiki and Nicholas Mezquida, the Rapids defeated FC Cincinnati 3-1 on Saturday at home.
Andre Shinyashiki and Nicolas Mezquida Lead Colorado Rapids to Fourth Straight Result
Both sides lined up numbers in the middle of the pitch and forced the ball wide. The Rapids looked to find Andre Shinyashiki and especially Sam Nicholson to get the ball forward. Cincinnati played in a pressing 4-1-4-1 and tried to find Roland Lamah on their right.
Cincy nearly scored in the 43rd minute. Fanendo Adi got the ball with his back to goal. He turned up field, getting past Lalas Abubakar. He looked to pass in the box but then shot with goalkeeper Tim Howard off his line. The chip was wide of goal.
The Rapids would score just a minute later. Nicholson got the ball on the run down the flank. He separated from his mark just before the touchline and sent a low cross into the box. With the center backs and goalkeeper focused on Kei Kamara, Andre Shinyashiki got the ball and scored an a wide open net unchallenged.
Colorado had a change of plans in the first half as Deklan Wynne had to be subbed out for an injury. He was replaced by Sam Vines.
The teams traded half chances before the game broke open in the 72nd minute. First, Kekuta Manneh scored just seconds after coming into the game. Lamah sent the ball into space as Manneh split the center backs. He tapped the ball past Howard at the last second to make it 1-1. Then just a minute later, Mezquida got the ball from Diego Rubio and blasted the ball into the upper 90 after Richie got a touch to it.
Rubio secured the victory in the 82nd minute when he headed a ball in off a Jack Price corner. The match ended 3-1.
.@nico_mezquida is on ???!!!#Rapids96 | #COLvCIN pic.twitter.com/zREKWW5x6L
— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) June 2, 2019
Three Takeaways:
Substitutes shine: Three of the four goals scored in this game were by substitutes. Manneh, Mezquida, and Rubio all showed their class in scoring.
Cincinnati lacking ideas: Cincinnati had lost five of six going into this game and had trouble finding the back of the net. Manneh did well to prevent the clean sheet but the offense is struggling. The only chances they really had were from individual moments. The system isn’t producing scoring opportunities.
Rapids rolling: The Colorado Rapids have now won three of four and taken ten of a possible twelve points. Transfer deadline acquisitions and pressure after firing a coach have yielded results.
