The final MLS match in the Desert Showcase presented by Visit Tucson ended with a plethora of goals from both teams.
Houston Dynamo played the first-team in the opening 45 minutes and gave the academy players chances in the second half. It was the second time the Dynamo went onto the field in 2022 after playing against Real Salt Lake in a closed scrimmage earlier this week.
This was the final match for the Colorado Rapids in its preseason schedule. The team returns to Denver to continue preparing for the 2022 season.
“We certainly saw enough good things over the three weeks here to feel like we’ve made some good progress,” said Rapids head coach Robin Fraser.
The Rapids opened the scoring early in the first half when Diego Rubio headed in a cross from Lucas Esteves.
The Dynamo tied the game late in the first half after Sebastian Ferreira knocked one in from close range.
The club put another in the back of the net a few minutes later, but it was ruled offsides.
The teams went into the second half stuck in a deadlock. Each side had its chances throughout the half, but neither could find the back of the net until the final five minutes of the match.
Houston grabbed its second in the 85th minute with academy player Andre Gitau knocking one in from close range after skipping past three defenders.
Colorado Rapids youngster Yaya Toure knocked in the ball from outside the box to grab the equalizer a few moments later.
Coco Carrasquilla scored the winner in stoppage time, beating the defender and sending the ball just past the goalkeeper.
Houston head coach Paulo Nagamura was pleased with his team’s performance, especially in the second half.
“We had to adjust a couple of things defensively and offensively, Nagamura said. “Once we figured that out, we were able to play the game that we like to play.”
Colorado Rapids head coach Robin Fraser felt similarly to Nagamura, but with his team’s first half performance.
“The first 20 minutes of the game we had complete control of it,” Fraser said. “Through fatigue and other things I think concentration lapsed and as a result we didn’t end up the way we wanted to.”
The Desert Showcase presented by Visit Tucson continues on Feb. 16 when USL Championship powerhouses Louisville City FC and El Paso Locomotive face off at Kino North Grandstand at 2 p.m. (RESERVE YOUR SEAT).
