Two goals from Wells Thompson were enough for the Colorado Rapids to advance to the next play-in stage of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and eliminate the Kansas City Wizards from the competition.
Despite an ideal start for the Wizards, the Rapids battled back to earn a 2-1 victory at Stanley H. Durwood Stadium on Tuesday night on the campus of the University of Kansas City-Missouri.
Kansas City drew first blood off the foot of rookie Teal Bunbury, who scored just four minutes into the match after outrunning three Rapids defenders on the left flank. The rookie bent a ball to the back post intended for the run of Josh Wolff that caromed in off the post and in from an impossible angle.
Thompson responded in the 24th minute off a corner kick from Jamie Smith. The former Revolution mainstay took one touch and sent a close-range rocket past Eric Kronberg at the near post to level the score.
Thompson scored the winner in the 80th minute off a feed from newly signed Argentine import Claudio López, who starred for Kansas City in 2008 and '09. The Rapids were content to drop into a defensive shell for the remainder of the match, absorbing pressure and holding on to the ball at every opportunity.
Kansas City had multiple opportunities to even the score in stoppage time, but Kei Kamara’s left-footed half volley wasn’t close to being on target and Rapids goalkeeper Steward Ceus tipped a late Jimmy Conrad header over the crossbar.
Recent Kansas City signing Sunil Chhetri – playing in his first match – earned a yellow card in the 20th minute.
Colorado will wait to see who it play going forward as the remaining eight MLS teams vie for two at-large spots in the tournament. New England will play the winner of a matchup between New York and Philadelphia, and the Rapids will then take on the winner of that matchup between the Revs and the Red Bulls/Union.
Scoring Summary:
KC – Teal Bunbury 1 (Unassisted) 4
COL – Wells Thompson 1 (Jamie Smith 1) 24
COL – Wells Thompson 2 (Claudio López) 81
Discipline Summary:
KC – Sunil Chhetri (Caution, Reckless Tackle) 20
COL – Wells Thompson (Caution, Tactical Foul) 32
KC – Jimmy Conrad (Caution, Reckless Tackle) 60
Colorado Rapids – Steward Cues, Kosuke Kimura (Drew Moor 46), Michael Holody, Scott Palguta, Danny Earls (Marvell Wynne 85), Mehdi Ballouchy, Ross LaBauex, Wells Thompson, Jamie Smith (Jeff Larentowicz 66), Quincy Amarikwa, Andre Akpan (Claudio López 79).
Substitutes Not Used: Matt Pickens, Omar Cummings.
Kansas City Wizards – Eric Kronberg, Jonathan Leathers, Jimmy Conrad, Pablo Escobar, Korede Aiyegbusi (Michael Harrington 46), Chance Myers, Graham Zusi (Stephane Auvray 66), Craig Rocastle, Sunil Chhetri (Kei Kamara 46), Teal Bunbury, Josh Wolff (Birahim Diop 88).
Substitutes Not Used: Alex Horwath, Davy Arnaud, Aaron Hohlbein.
Referee: Tony Russo
Referee's Assistants: Doug Wolff, Shane Butler
4th Official: Mark Boyko
