Rapids Win First USOC Game In 5 Years

Using a lineup of mainly reserves Colorado won their first true U.S. Open Cup game in 5 years 3-1 over the Tampa Bay Rowdies.  The starting XI was:

Hill - Akpan - Edu

Thompson - Henao - Castrillon

Zapata - Marshall - Palguta - Freeman

Ceus

The goals came from all 3 of our starting strikers.  Edu started the scoring off a PK in the 17th minute.  For the second game in a row Wells Thompson earned the PK.  Akpan doubled the lead in the 33rd minute off an assist from Thompson and Hill settled the game in the 90th minute with Akpan getting the assist.  In the 92nd minute Tampa "scored" their only goal, but replays make it appear the ball never completely crossed the line.  Ceus was not pleased with the goal card and earned a yellow card for his dissent to go with the yellow Wells earned earlier in the game.

The Rapids now move on to play Sporting Kansas City in KC next Tuesday at 6:30pm MDT.  The winner will get a spot in the quarter-finals.