A goal in the last minute of second half stoppage time by substitute Darren Yapi proved to be the difference in Colorado Rapids’ 2-1 win over Toluca FC in a dramatic Round of 16 matchup at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Co. Yapi had only been on the field since the 86th minute before getting the match-winning goal. Rapids advance to the quarterfinals of the Leagues Cup while handing Toluca their first loss this season in all competitions.
The first half followed a classic soccer script to the letter: one-way traffic for one team, only for the other to score. Toluca dominated possession and enjoyed a lopsided edge in shots. The chances went begging, and a couple of them even hit the post.
In the 45th minute, Colorado intercepted a loose pass, Rapids wingback Sam Vines’ darting run got behind the Toluca defense, where Cole Bassett found him with a well-judged pass. Vines deftly dropped the ball toward Rafael Navarro, and Navarro slammed it home for the 1-0 lead for Colorado at the half.
The second half was nearly a mirror image of the first. Toluca kept attacking, Colorado kept absorbing. Toluca was doing everything right, except their final play toward goal. Los diablos rojos were finally rewarded in the 83rd minute. Alexis Vega sent a through ball down the left for Jaime Gallardo to chase down. Gallardo collected and centered to Paulinho. The Portuguese forward had been peppering the Colorado goal throughout the match without much success. This time he was able to pirouette enough to back heel the ball into the corner of the net to put Toluca level. It was one of the prettiest goals of the tournament.
Just like in the first half, Colorado saved their best soccer for last. Three minutes into the six-minute added time, Djordje Mihailovic scored an apparent match-winner, but was called off when VAR determined Connor Ronan was offside on the build-up. A few minutes later, it was Mihailovic again, whose centering pass was diverted goalward by defender Bruno Méndez. Just when it appeared that Toluca keeper Tiago Volpi would collect the ball before crossing the line, Yapi beat Volpi to the ball and pushed it over the line for the match-winner.
“Our team responds. That is a good team that we played tonight. We got pushed to the limit in every way: physically, emotionally, tactically. I give our group a lot of credit that they stick to it. And that they responded in the big moments.” Rapids coach Chris Armas said after the match.
Colorado extended their home undefeated streak to 11 games, but will have to travel for their quarterfinal tilt to face Club América, who defeated St. Louis CITY SC 4-2 in Los Angeles.
