COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Colorado Rapids Designated Player Kevin Doyle picked a perfect time to score his first MLS goal, netting the game-winner in front of a capacity Independence Day crowd at Dick's Sporting Goods Park as the home team downed in-form Western Conference foes Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1.
With a league-low 12 goals scored in 2015, the Rapids entered the match with questions surrounding their attack, but like a flash Vicente Sanchez eased the anxieties by scoring an opening goal just two minutes into the match.
It was the Rapids’ first opening goal in regular-season play since their last outing against the Whitecaps, a 1-0 victory back on May 23 that was also their last league win.
It only took a span of 18 minutes for the visitors to respond, however, via a Kekuta Manneh equalizer in the 20th minute. An acrobatic play at the endline by Mauro Rosales kept the ball in play, and his looping cross fell to the feet of Manneh, who tapped it in at the far post to level the score at 1-1.
Vancouver controlled the opening half with the majority of possession, but Colorado managed to outshoot their opponents with nine shots to the Whitecaps’ six as the teams entered the lockers tied 1-1 at halftime.
Doyle then opened his MLS account to put Colorado’s noses in front again in the second half. On a delivery from Lucas Pittinari, Doyle powered a header towards Vancouver’s net which deflected off the base of the right post and past goalkeeper David Ousted, giving Colorado a 2-1 advantage in the 56th minute.
Vancouver did little to test the Rapids in their search for an equalizer, as Colorado controlled possession down the stretch to hold on to their first regular-season win in six weeks.
Colorado will remain at home to face Real Salt Lake next Saturday for the second leg of this year's Rocky Mountain Cup rivalry (9 pm ET, MLS LIVE). Vancouver will return to BC Place on Sunday, July 12 to take on Sporting KC (9 pm ET on TSN1 and MLS LIVE in the USA) in another Western Conference showdown.
