WESTMINSTER, Colo. - The Colorado Rapids Reserves dropped a 1-0 decision to the Columbus Crew Reserves on Sunday, April 24th in a game played at the Rapids' Westminster Training Facility. After a scoreless first half, the Crew's Jamal Sutton hit a ball low and to the right of Rapids keeper Byron Foss in the 2nd, scoring the only goal of the game.
The Rapids controlled play for most of the fist half. In the 11th minute, forward Sasha Gotsmanov found the ball in the left corner and sent a cross into the box to Marcus Sagastume, who managed to feed the ball to an onrushing Kyle Beckerman. The Rapids midfielder, who had joined the attack, saw his header fly just inches over the crossbar.
In the 30th minute, Wolde Harris struck a shot on goal, forcing the Crew's keeper Matt Jordan to make the save. Only a few minutes later, a breakthrough by Gotsmanov led to a one-on-one situation with a Crew defender that was only cleared by the visiting team's back line.
The two teams entered halftime with the score still 0-0.
After the half the Crew's Devin Barclay was forced to leave the game with an injury to his right shoulder, and was replaced with Jake Traeger.
Soon after the substitution, Beckerman passed the ball to Sagastume, who sent in an outswinging cross for Harris. The Jamaican international's shot went over the crossbar.
In the 50th minute, Foss came out off his line trying to cover a through ball, but slipped in the attempt, leaving the loose ball in the path of Sutton, who pushed it past the fallen goalkeeper for the game-winning goal.
In the 60th minute Gotsmanov passed the ball to Beckerman at midfield. Beckerman dribbled the ball up to the box and returned it to Gotsmanov, who forced Bill Gaudette in the Crew's goal to make a great diving save.
Late in the game Rapids players Jean Philippe Peguero and Jeff Cunningham subbed in for Colorado, both of the Rapids strikers seeing their first action after recovering from some nagging injuries.
Close to the 85th minute of the game, the Crew came close to another tally, but they were unsuccessful, with several players combining in the center, but with the end result of sending the ball outside the Rapids' right post.
Scoring Summary:
Crew - Jamal Sutton 1 (50')
Colorado Rapids Reserves - Kyle Beckerman, Leo Cullen (Jean Philippe Peguero), Josh Elbaum, Byron Foss, Dan Gargan, Sasha Gotsmanov, Wolde Harris (Jeff Cunningham), Ricky Lewis (Jeff Krause), Amir Lowery, Guy Melamed, Marcus Sagastume
Columbus Crew Reserves - Devin Barclay (Jake Traeger), Knox Cameron, Stephen Herdsman, Matt Jordan (Bill Gaudette), Manny Lagos, Domenic Mediate, Mark Schulte, Marcus Storey, Jamal Sutton (Ryan Kelly), Eric Vasquez, Sammy Tamporelo
Misconduct Summary:
Crew - Sammy Tamporelo (Caution) 26
Crew - Manny Lagos (Caution) 11
