2020 MLS is Back Tournament – Group D, Matchday 10
Sporting Kansas City vs. Colorado Rapids
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Fri., July 17 – 8:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes; TSN in Canada
STREAMING: ESPN App in USA; TSN App in Canada
Two teams desperate to bounce back from Round 1 defeats square off Friday night when Sporting Kansas City and the Colorado Rapids meet in Group D play.
SKC were in total control of their opening game, until a late red card for Tim Melia opened the door for even later goals as Minnesota United rallied for a 2-1 win Sunday. Sporting came out of the gates flying, and opened a 1-0 lead in the 43rd minute via Khiry Shelton after a clever midfield turn from Alan Pulido. Shelton drove into the 18-yard box and slotted home at the near post as Loons’ goalkeeper Tyler Miller committed himself to a cross.
But after Melia was sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity in the 74th minute, an own goal by Shelton leveled for the Loons before Kevin Molino scored the decisive goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
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- Jonathan Lewis: Colorado Rapids loss to Real Salt Lake was worst performance under Robin Fraser
- Real Salt Lake's intense identity, Sporting Kansas City's silver lining and more Group D takeaways | Charles Boehm
The Rapids dropped a fourth straight Rocky Mountain Cup encounter to Real Salt Lake, losing 2-0 on Sunday. Albert Rusnak put RSL in front early, but his bid for a brace came up short thanks to a terrific penalty kick save by Clint Irwin, who also denied Nick Besler on the rebound. But any momentum the Rapids seized from that moment dissipated in the 76th minute on a long-range effort by Damir Kreilach.
Sporting earned maximum points from their first two league matches, with decisive wins over the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Houston Dynamo, while the Rapids, under new coach Robin Fraser, claimed a pair of 2-1 victories over D.C. United and Orlando City SC.
Sporting Kansas City
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Felipe Gutierrez (M) - knee surgery
- OUT: Andreu Fontas (D) - quad strain
- Suspended: Tim Melia (GK)
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
Colorado Rapids
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Kortne Ford (D) - left knee injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
Series Matchup
- Sporting KC: 25 wins, 103 goals
- Rapids: 24 wins, 86 goals
- 15 draws
Officials
- Referee: David Gantar
- Assistant Referees: Nick Uranga, Apolinar Mariscal
- 4th Official: Fotis Bazakos
- VAR: Rubiel Vazquez
