Two Down, Bring On Toluca!

Friday night the Rapids continued their Leagues Cup run with another win over a Liga MX team.  While the win was tight at the end (as I predicted) the Rapids controlled long stretches of the game.  Zach Steffen once again came up huge on multiple saves.  He's just build for Leagues Cup I guess.

The Juarez goals were off a rebound by Steffen, where Vines kept everyone onside, and a PK given up by Ronan.  Two players who have struggled on defense this year.  Along with the goal against Leon, which also came from a rebound after Steffen parried a one on one shot off the post its hard to blame goalkeeping for any of the goals conceded the last two games.

On offense getting three goals is a nice return.  The first was generated from high pressure put on by Navarro that resulted in a turnover on the end line.  Lewis finished the chance just after he had skied one to the point where I didn't knew who had taken the shot and turned to other C38 members and said "If you tell me that was Lewis I'd believe you",  Sorry JLew for not believing in you.  He also earned a penalty on a hand ball for the second, finished by Mihailovic.  Then it was Mihailovic's turn to set up (eventually) Harris from a corner kick that pinballed around in the box a bit before he finished it.  Three good goals from 3 different sources (open play, penalty, corner).

With the win Colorado moves to the Round of 16 and faces Toluca in another game as the away team at home.  This one is Tuesday night at the Dick at 8pm.  These tickets are not part of the season ticket plan so we might see a less Rapids-biased crowd.

If you're wondering how the rest of the competition lays out, if we beat Toluca we would face the winner of Club America-St. Louis.  We would go on the road for that one (to San Diego if Club America wins).  Then if we're still alive in the semi-finals we would get the winner of the Seattle/LAFC/SJ/Pumas quadrant.  The only way we would host would be against Pumas.  In the final the remaining team would be between 5 MLS clubs and 3 Liga MX clubs on that side of the bracket.  We would host a Liga MX club but be on the road against a MLS club should we play in the championship.

First up though, focus on Toluca.  They took us to the woodshed in group play at the Dick last year.

Man of the Match: Jonathan Lewis.  Score a goal, draw a PK for the second.  Steffen had a great game but I give the edge to JLew.