COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (August 3, 2019) – Colorado Rapids against Montreal Impact, thy name is chaos. In a game that saw two own goals, set pieces galore, and a Kei Kamara hattrick, Colorado was able to shake off a literal plague to get a win.
Kei Kamara Brace Downs Impact, Cures Rapids Own Goal Plague
The first half was a wild one. First, Kamara committed an atrocious own goal in the 18th minute, off an Impact corner. He mistimed his jump, similar to Tommy Smith a few weeks ago, and headed the ball off the pitch and into his own net.
Colorado pulled one back in the 21st minute. Kei Kamara played the ball along the goal line off a short set piece by Jack Price. Goalkeeper Evan Bush and Lalas Abubakar collided and the ball went it. No foul was called and the play went down as an own goal to Bush.
Kamara made up for his error earlier in the game on a Pk in the 36th minute. On a crazy sequence that saw a shot go over the bar, Tommy Smith tangled with Zakaria Diallo and Smith went down. The play was followed up by Diego Rubio and Shamit Shome challenging for the ball that led to Rubio going down. VAR took a look and called a PK. Kamara converted, making it 1-1.
Colorado took the lead at the start of first half stoppage time. Sam Nicholson sent the ball in that forced Bush off his line. He couldn’t get to it. Kamara won the ball against two Impact defenders and sneaked the ball into the bottom far corner.
Rubio made it 4-1 just before half time, heading in a corner from Price.
Maxi Urruti pulled one back for the visitors in the 55th minute with a rocket from distance. Saphir Taider made it a one goal game on a PK in the 76th minute, blasting the ball past substitute Clint Irwin to the left. The foul on the Pk was committed by Kellyn Acosta.
Andre Shinyashiki made it 5-3 on a header off a corner in the 78th minute. Kamara got his hattrick right at fulltime on yet another set piece. The match ended 6-3.
45’+1 – GO ON KEI!@keikamara hits it far post and that makes it double digits for number 23!
? https://t.co/S6zYxLqFLB pic.twitter.com/OtA3QUY3us
— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) August 4, 2019
Three Takeaways:
Own goals: The first two goals were a sign of the craziness to come. The Rapids have been involved in many games this year with an own goal, and Kei Kamara was involved in both.
Kei Kamara hattrick: This game featured an offensive explosion, led by a Kei Kamara hattrick and the two own goals he was involved in. The Rapids ultimately found success on set pieces to get the win.
Tight playoff race: This was a massive blow to Montreal’s playoff hopes. In a crowded Eastern Conference, most teams have been able to pick up points against Colorado. A loss and a hit to their goal differential was not what this team needed.
