Rapids End Desert Diamond Cup With Draw

In a windy, rainy, ugly game in Tucson yesterday Colorado finished their preseason slate with a 2-2 draw against New England.  The starting XI:

Irwin

Sturgis - Moor - Wynne - Klute

Mari - LaBrocca

Serna - Powers - Hill

Buddle

After an early goal from the Revs the Rapids tied it up in the 25th minute after Serna capitalized on a defensive miscue.  His driving shot was blocked but the rebound fell to Buddle who finished the opportunity.  The weather kept things interesting but the teams went into the break deadlocked.  Sanchez took over for Powers in the middle of the field, in the 50th minute O'Neill got his first preseason work subbing in for Sturgis, and in the 56th minute Torres took over for Buddle.  A minute later, in the rain and wind, Irwin either spilled or just got beaten to a shot and New England cleaned up the mess to retake the lead.  In the 72nd minute the Rapids made a full lineup change of the remaining field starters, leaving them looking like this:

Irwin

Watts - VDC - O'Neill - Edward

Guzman - Hairston

Chavez - Sanchez - Eloundou

Torres

Berner subbed in for Irwin in the 81st.  In the 82nd the Rapids beat the Revs and the elements for a 2nd goal.  Torres got through on a breakaway but the Revs backup GK couldn't hold the shot and Sanchez cleaned it up for the draw.  To top off the game Chavez and the Revs' Imbongo both saw red for a scuffle 5 minutes before the end.

The Rapids returned to Colorado today and will be preparing for their season opener in NY on March 15th.