Rapids Extend Home Unbeaten Streak to 12 Following 2-1 Victory Over Portland Timbers

September 14, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release

The Colorado Rapids (14-9-5, 47 pts.) extended their unbeaten streak at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park to 12 matches with a victory over the Portland Timbers (11-10-7, 40 pts.). Goals from Jonathan Lewis and Rafael Navarro and a couple of assists for Djordje Mihailovic lifted the club to a crucial 2-1 victory. The goals paired with a solid defensive performance all around were enough to secure the victory and improve the club’s potential playoff position as the regular season comes to a close.

In what was the third match of 2024 between these two sides across all competitions, the Rapids were looking to avenge their previous performances against a familiar foe.

The match’s pace started out fast, with both Colorado and Portland getting chances in the final third following transition play. Portland managed to string together multiple plays together but found no luck past the Rapids backline early on. After settling in, Colorado bounced back and created chances of their own in the attacking zone. Those repeated chances resulted in what would be the first goal of the match.

After the Rapids connected multiple passes through the midfield, Mihailovic found himself at the top of the eighteen looking to make something happen. The midfielder then played a pass that deflected off a Timbers defender and then off of himself, which turned out to be a perfect set-up for Jonathan Lewis. Without taking a dribble, Lewis fired a shot with his left foot into the bottom right corner to give his side the first lead of the match.

Lewis has now scored in consecutive home matches in MLS play. The goal was his third of the season in MLS and his 26th as a member of the Rapids. That mark puts Lewis into a tie with Mark Chung for the 10th most in club history.

Portland would end up matching the Colorado goal ten minutes later off a set piece. After the ball was served in by Evander, Miguel Araujo headed a pass across net to find David Ayala, who placed a header of his own into the back of the net to equalize.

The two goals rounded out the first half scoring, but the match still had a game-winning goal waiting in the final forty-five minutes-plus.

Portland came out of the break on the front foot, but the Leagues Cup Goalkeeper of the Tournament, Zack Steffen, denied every shot he was faced with. The entire defensive play from the Rapids was stellar, stopping a high-octane Timbers attack from any high-quality chances….