The Colorado Rapids have aimed to add more offensive firepower to their lineup in the offseason, and their preseason match against the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday showed progress on that front, as the visitors won 3-1.
There was a scary sight in the 13th minute, as a Rapids shot by Kellyn Acosta off a counterattack led to Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham blocking it with his face. He was down for several minutes, attended to by medical personnel, and walked off the field under his own power, with Matt Lampson replacing him in goal.
The Rapids took the lead in the 42nd minute, as Dillon Serna sent in an early cross that was headed in from the penalty spot by Kei Kamara. Diego Rubio doubled the tally midway through the second half, with a deft chip to beat an onrushing Lampson.
But the Galaxy didn't give up and Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored in his first preseason appearance, out-jumping another tall Swede, Axel Sjoberg, off an Uriel Antuna cross.
But the Rapids had the last laugh, as substitute Andre Shinyashiki forced a turnover deep in the Galaxy half, then sent a square pass that Rubio coolly converted to make it 3-1.
LA open the 2019 MLS regular season next Saturday at home against the Chicago Fire (8 pm ET | FS1). Colorado open at home on the same day, against the Portland Timbers (6 pm ET | ESPN+).
Goals
- COL - Kei Kamara (Dillon Serna) 42'
- COL - Diego Rubio (Sam Nicholson) 69'
- LA - Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Uriel Antuna) 77'
- COL - Diego Rubio (Andre Shinyashiki 85')
Lineups
LA Galaxy (4-4-2): GK - David Bingham; Rolf Feltscher, Daniel Steres, Diego Polenta, Jorgen Skjelvik (Diedie Traore 62'); Romain Alessandrini, Servando Carrasco, Emil Cuello, Uriel Antuna (Emmanuel Boateng 79'); Ola Kamara (Efrain Alvarez 62'), Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Colorado Rapids (4-4-2): GK - Tim Howard; Dillon Serna, Deklan Wynne, Axel Sjoberg, Keegan Rosenberry; Benny Feilhaber (Johan Blomberg 84'), Cole Bassett, Kellyn Acosta, Nicolas Mezquida (Sam Nicholson 61'); Kei Kamara (Andre Shinyashiki 70'), Diego Rubio
