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Colorado Rapids

Rapids win 2-1

July 5, 2015 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


Kevin Doyle scored his first MLS goal as Colorado Rapids beat Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 on Saturday evening.

The DP striker decided this July 4 contest with a powerful header from Lucas Pittinari's cross in the 56th minute.

Rapids had gone ahead after only 80 seconds when Vicente Sanchez slotted home following a fine cutback by Luis Solignac.

However the Western Conference leaders equalized in the 20th minute after Kakuta Manneh turned home a cross from Mauro Rosales.

It was level at the break but the Rapids, led by Doyle's intelligent forward play, had the better of the second half and deservedly secured their third victory of the campaign.

They now have a record of 3-6-9 while Vancouver drop to 10-7-2.

TEAM NEWS

Pablo Mastroeni changed formation for this fixture between sides at either end of the Western Conference.

Doyle lead a three-man attack with Solignac and Sanchez on either flank. Sam Cronin, Marcelo Sarvas and Pittinari were the midfield trio. At the back, from left to right, it was Drew Moor, Jared Watts, Bobby Burling and James Riley. As ever, Clint Irwin was in goal.

FIRST HALF

Rapids were ahead straight away. Solignac tricked his way to the byline on the left-hand side and cut the ball back for the unmarked Sanchez to slot home. However Doyle's decoy run at the near post had been a crucial factor.

Understandably the home side built their confidence on the back of that goal. They pushed back Vancouver, a side that had won their last three road games.

In the 18th minute, a free-kick from Sarvas rebounded to Solignac, who hooked a vicious volley goalward. Vancouver keeper David Ousted pulled off a fine reaction save.

It would be a crucial moment. The visitors were starting to find their game before that chance. After it, they found the net too.

Rosales chased down a loose ball near the ball and hooked an optimistic cross to the far post. Manneh sneaked in behind Riley to prod home at the far post.

The Gambia-born striker was the biggest danger to the Rapids. He clipped a shot just over the bar on the half-hour and, after that, Darren Mattocks fired wide at the far post.

However Rapids had their chances too. Solignac, Rapids' unluckiest striker, curled an effort just beyond the far post and, on the whistle, nudged an unconverted header through a crowded area. Inbetween those efforts Moor nodded into the sidenetting.

SECOND HALF

Rapids took the game to Vancouver and put them under pressure from the start. In the 56th minute they got the breakthrough when Pittinari floated a cross over from the right and Doyle rose highest to head home off the post.

It was exactly the sort of the goal the Irishman has scored year in, year out for Wolves and Reading.

Shortly afterwards Doyle narrowly missed converting an audacious diving header from 12 yards out

Rapids were now looking confident and applying persistant pressure but they did not carve open Vancouver that much. In fact the visitors had a couple of opportunities on the break.

Manneh still posed a threat but the most dangerous moment came when Irwin saved at near post from substitute Octavio Rivero.

However, in general, Rapids contained them well and held on for a morale-boosting victory.

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