COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – First professional game, first start, first win, first goal – Colorado Rapids rookie defender Joseph Greenspan didn’t have a bad Tuesday.
Greenspan made his pro debut on Tuesday, starting and playing the full 90 for the Rapids in their 4-1 US Open Cup fourth-round win over the USL’s Colorado Springs Switchbacks at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The United States Naval Academy product, turned in a star shift for Colorado. First, Greenspan headed home a Dillon Serna cross to give the Rapids a 2-0 lead in the 32nd minute; he also led a solid back-line effort that kept the Switchbacks off the board until second-half stoppage time.
“[Greenspan] was one of the best players on the field tonight,” said Rapids director of soccer Claudio López, running the team in place of suspended head coach Pablo Mastroeni. “There were no doubts.”
“It felt pretty good,” added Greenspan, who was selected by the Rapids in the January SuperDraft but only joined the team full-time on June 5 after receiving clearance and a Denver-area assignment from the Navy. “A lot of people were telling me, ‘You’re going to score.’ In pregame, coach told me to use that back post, and Serna can put it on a dime. It’s something we’ve been working on.”
Greenspan was far from the only lightly used Rapids player to shine on Tuesday, with US U-23 regulars Serna and Shane O’Neill showing well in their first starts since returning from the Toulon Tournament.
“Every player put in a great performance,” said López. “They set the tone for the game.”
Serna was particularly strong, notching a pair of goals in addition to his assist on Greenspan’s tally.
“He played in the holes where he could find space,” López said of the Homegrown midfielder. “We’re happy he came back from the national team with a great performance.
“That’s all I needed,” said Serna. “I think today was a good showing that I’m going to push myself and that when I’m going to get the opportunity, that I’ll make the best of it.”
The win was only the second at home this season for the Rapids and provided a major confidence boost for the team’s return to league action against FC Dallas this Friday (9 pm ET, UniMás, UDN).
“I think it was a great game and brought a great level of confidence for us,” said López. “It’s something we have been working on every day during the week, and we’ll try to approach things the same way. I think we’ll work a little bit more over these next two days and be prepared for a good game Friday, too.”
