TORONTO, ONTARIO – Fighting to secure a win before returning home to Commerce City, the Colorado Rapids fell to Toronto FC this afternoon in an away 3-2 matchup, where scoring and cards dominated the second half.
Returning to the pitch after a week off, the Rapids welcomed back several players from international duty, including key starters and regular substitutes. 18-year-old Lucas Herrington, who made his debut with the Australian Men’s National Team last week and returned from the Socceroos to claim a spot in the starting eleven today.
Darren Yapi and Noah Cobb, who each served the United States U-21 Men’s National Team, were named as substitutes prior to the match and each saw minutes in the second half.
Out of the gate, Toronto showcased early offensive pressure. A shot from Dániel Sallói in the first minute was saved by Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffen and an additional attempt from Josh Sargent in the 12th minute.
Steffen returns to the net for a second week following a shoulder injury that left him sidelined earlier this season. Defender Reggie Cannon and midfielders Connor Ronan and Ted Ku-DiPietro remain out due to injury.
As the first half progressed, there were numerous missed attempts from the Rapids offense. Rafael Navarro began shooting for the Colorado team in the 18th minute and circled back for another shot minutes later, both recovered by Toronto defense.
With a combined 30 fouls throughout the entire match, both clubs showcased persistent and aggressive defense. Colorado’s Jackson Travis received the first red card of the match in the 34th minute, after fouling Raheem Edwards, causing the Rapids to play one-man-down the rest of the day.
Directly following, head coach Matt Wells made his first substitution, entering defender Keegan Rosenberry for forward Dante Sealy to help maintain Colorado’s defense in Travis’s absence.
Within the final four minutes, Toronto FC senior defender Walker Zimmerman received the match’s first yellow card, Gavran was able to save a shot by Paxten Aaronson and the Rapids defense was highlighted with a save from Herrington, blocking Josh Sargent’s scoring attempt.
Despite battling for possession for the majority of the first half and the exciting showcase of events that occurred in the minutes leading up to halftime, both clubs left the first half scoreless.
Evidence of similar energy translated into the second half with Toronto left back Edwards receiving the second red card of the match in the 49th minute, leaving both clubs with ten men on the field.
In immediate response to the absence, Aaronson found the net, scoring off a free kick to the bottom left corner of the box, unable to be saved by goalkeeper Luka Gavran and allowing the Rapids to take the lead in the 51st minute.
Aaronson has now scored three goals across the last two matches and has contributed to the team four times his last four appearances.
To keep the momentum, Rossenberry found the net less than three minutes later, to bring the Rapids to a 2-0 lead. The goal marks his first goal of the season and his 12th in the MLS.
With an apartment change in pace from the visiting team, Toronto head coach Robin Fraser began to make changes early in the second half. Matheus Pereira entered the game for DeAndre Kerr and Zane Monlouis for Zimmerman.
In an attempt to regain control of the scoring, Toronto’s five shots from the home club between the 55th to 60th minutes ultimately ended in a goal from defender Richie Laryea, assisted by Sargent and a second assist by José Cifuentes to tighten the score, Rapids 2 – Toronto 1.
The aggressiveness continued throughout the second half. A Toronto yellow card was issued to Monlouis in the 69th and an additional one for Rapids Miquel Navarro in the 64th and Josh Atencio in the 73rd. Atenco was immediately substituted for Alexis Manyoma.
A series of events in the following minutes changed things heavily for the Rapids. M. Navarro received his second yellow card of the game, resulting in a red and an ejection from the game.
Directly following, Steffen scored an own goal from the center of the box, tying the game at 2-2 due to the goalkeeper’s error. Steffen, however, recorded a save on an additional shot from Sallói minutes later.
Wells, who is in his first season with the Rapids, is well known for his inclusion of a dynamic roster and frequent substitutions. In the 84th minute Ian Murphy and national team call-ups Cobb and Yapi entered the game in exchange for Manyoma, Aaronson and R. Navarro.
Despite their best efforts, Toronto right striker Sargent scored a header from the center of the box, assisted by Alonso Coello, giving the club a 3-2 lead with minutes left in the match.
Additional yellow cards were issued throughout the end of the match, with Rapids Cobb and Ojediran receiving one each. A singular Toronto yellows card was issued to Laryea.
With an intense, foul-heavy match coming to an end, the Rapids were unable to regain control of the match and ultimately fell to Toronto 3-2 despite second-half efforts.
The Rapids will return to DICK’S Sporting Goods Park next week to face Houston. Kickoff is set for March 11 at 7:30p.m, as Rapids attempt to regain home momentum.
