Colorado Rapids 2 End Whitecaps FC 2’s Playoff Run with 2-1 Victory

August 26, 2022 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Colorado Rapids 2 News Release

Colorado Rapids 2 pulled out a huge three-point win tonight against Whitecaps FC 2 after securing a late game-winning goal in the second half. The 2-1 win saw Philip Mayaka and Maclovio Swett record the two goals of the night while goalkeeper Abraham Rodriguez put up a game-high of six saves.

“We wanted to win, and I feel like we fought every single minute of the game,” said Maclovio Swett. When things got ugly, we just kept wanting to play. In the end, I feel like all of the boys, we respected our opponent, and we got what we deserved.”

The mid-week match got off to a slow start for Colorado who struggled to maintain possession in the first half. The Whitecaps’ front two immediately forced goalkeeper Rodriguez to defend his side as he recorded four saves in the first 45 minutes. Joining him in his defensive efforts, Michael Edwards, Blake Malone and Daniel Garcia made crucial defensive plays to keep Vancouver at bay as they put up five shots on goal.

In the 20th minute of the match, Vancouver’s Simon Becher found the back of the net, sliding one just under the feet of Rodriguez to give the Whitecaps the early lead. The home side ended the half with a 1-0 lead, but a determined Rapids 2 squad came out with confidence in the second half and a desire to find the equalizer.

“We were able to withstand the pressure that we were under initially. In fact, we were disappointed with the goal that we conceded. We can do better with that and thankfully we did throughout the rest of the game. We had a lot of guys step up and take on more responsibility as the game progressed. We showed we had the ability to sustain some possession and the guys were brave in their efforts to get forward with and without the ball,” said Erik Bushey, Rapids 2 head coach.

The first dangerous scoring opportunity for Colorado came under unusual circumstances with the team earning an indirect free kick in the box off of an error from the Vancouver keeper. Colorado converted the equalizer in the 62nd minute of the match thanks to the quick thinking of Yosuke Hanya who placed the ball down in the box and assisted Philip Mayaka in his second goal of the season.

“It is a unique play. We will have to learn from it as well because it is an easy one to get punished on,” said Bushey. “The free kick in the box is so close to the goal, it isn’t something that happens all too often from the indirect kick standpoint. The…