Commerce City, CO - Three different players found the back of the net as the Colorado Rapids secured a place in the quarterfinals of the oldest sports tournament in America with a 3-1 win over the California Victory.
The Rapids had their first scoring chance when Herculez Gomez hit the woodwork in the fourth minute. Roberto Brown headed a ball to Jose Cancela who flicked it on to Herculez. The Las Vegas native's shot caromed off the far post.
In the ninth minute, Victory goalie Eric Reed made a one-handed save on a Cancela free kick. The Uruguayan was fouled 20 yards from goal to earn the restart.
Cancela got a second chance in the 22nd minute, and this time made no mistake. His curling, right-footed free kick flew into the side netting for a 1-0 Rapids lead.
Nick LaBrocca skipped a shot wide in the 43rd minute. The rookie from Rutgers took a one-timed, left-footed shot that missed the goal by inches.
Herculez doubled the Rapids lead in the 50th minute. Playing in his second game after earning his first two caps for the US National Team, he headed in a Cancela cross.
The Victory got a goal back in the 79th minute when Juan Epitie's shot bounced off the post, off Zach Thornton and into the goal.
Second half substitute Omar Cummings scored the Rapids third goal in the 89th minute. Herculez chipped a ball over and around two Victory defenders to leave Cummings one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The Jamaican international wasted no time; firing on his second touch, he gave Reed no chance to save the shot.
The Rapids now move on to the quarterfinals of the Open Cup on August 7 and will travel to take on the winner of the Seattle Sounders and Chivas USA game that will be played on July 18.
Colorado Rapids Man of the Match: Herculez Gomez
Scoring Summary:
COL - Cancela 22
COL - Gomez (Cancela) 50
CAL - Epitie 79
COL - Cummings (Gomez) 89
Lineups:
Colorado Rapids - Zach Thornton, Kosuke Kimura, Ugo Ihemelu, Stephen Keel, Jordan Harvey, Kyle Beckerman (Nico Colaluca 71), Daniel Wasson, Jose Cancela (Jovan Kirovski 75), Nick LaBrocca (Nicolas Hernandez 87), Herculez Gomez, Roberto Brown (Omar Cummings 46)
Substitutes Not Used: Justin Hughes, Terry Cooke, Brandon Prideaux
California Victory - Eric Reed, Luis Aguilar, Chris Schwarze, Ryan Suarez, Jose Reitz, Omar Aguayo (Yuri Morales 46), Federico Bianchi, Mike Munoz (Hugo Casillas 59), Matt Fitzgerald (Chuck Kim 75), Juan Epitie, Josh Hansen (Aaron Chandler 64)
Substitutes Not Used: Dominik Jakubek, Luis Mira
Misconduct Summary:
COL - Beckerman (Caution) 11
CAL - Schwarze (Caution) 21
Referee: Ramon Hernandez
Referees Assts.: Matt Grove, Scott McCaslin
Fourth Official: Eric Bryan
