Drew Moor scored the late winner, heading in a Nicolas Mezquida corner kick to lift the Colorado Rapids to a 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Ariz. Saturday.
Moor latched onto Mezquida’s near-post corner kick to score the decisive goal in the 79th minute and the Rapids have yet to concede in 180 minutes of preseason action.
Colorado defeated the Portland Timbers and Phoenix Rising FC by identical 2-0 scorelines in a pair of 45-minute scrimmages on March 16.
The Rapids backline came up big early with Lalas Abubakar and Keegan Rosenberry blocking attempts. In the 31st minute, Alan Pulido lined up to take a dangerous free kick, but put his chance off the Rapids wall.
Sporting went with a completely changed XI for the second half and nearly opened the scoring four minutes after the break as Gadi Kinda intercepted a short goal kick and freed Grayson Barber on the right side of the area, but his effort was smothered by Clint Irwin, who replaced William Yarbrough at halftime.
After Jack Price volleyed off the crossbar in the 57th minute, Robin Fraser went with wholesale changes at the hour mark and the Rapids made the most of a set piece following an SKC turnover for the game’s lone goal.
Sporting will meet the Portland Timbers in their third preseason match on March 24, while the Rapids take on New Mexico United March 27.
Goals
- 79’ — COL — Drew Moor
Lineups
Colorado Rapids, first 60 minutes (4-3-3): William Yarbrough (Clint Irwin 46’) — Keegan Rosenberry, Lalas Abubakar, Danny Wilson, Steven Beitashour — Jack Price, Younes Namli, Kellyn Acosta — Michael Barrios (Braian Galvan 46’), Andre Shinyashiki, Cole Bassett
Colorado Rapids, final 30 minutes (4-3-3): Clint Irwin — Michael Edwards, Kortne Ford, Drew Moor, Jeremy Kelly — Collen Warner, Oliver Larraz, Nicolas Mezquida — Braian Galvan (Matt Hundley 77’), Darren Yapi, Yaya Toure.
Sporting Kansas City, first half (4-3-3): Tim Melia — Jaylin Lindsey, Kaveh Rad, Andreu Fontas, Luis Martins — Ilie Sanchez, Gianluca Busio, Remi Walter (Gadi Kinda 31’) — Johnny Russell, Alan Pulido, Daniel Salloi
Sporting Kansas City second half (4-3-3): John Pulskamp — Kayden Pierre, Matt Constant (Graham Smith 74’), Roberto Puncec — Felipe Hernandez, Cam Duke, Gadi Kinda (Tyler Freeman 52’) — Grayson Barber, Wilson Harris, Khiry Shelton
