The Colorado Rapids today dropped a preseason match by a score of 2-0 to fellow Major League Soccer side San Jose Earthquakes in game played at Spurs Lodge in Chigwell, London, home training ground of English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.
San Jose received goals from Ryan Johnson and Quincy Amarikwa in
the first and final ten minutes of the match, respectively, to earn the
win.
The matchup was a contest between two MLS teams that are partners
with London-based Premier League sides, the Rapids with Arsenal FC and
San Jose with Tottenham.
Colorado trained all week at Arsenal’s training center in Colney,
and on Tuesday defeated the Arsenal Reserves 1-0. Likewise, San Jose
have spent the last week training at Spurs Lodge in Chigwell, and also
defeated their partner club’s development side 1-0 on Wednesday.
In today’s match, San Jose’s Ryan Johnson gave the Quakes the early lead after ten minutes. Johnson battled Rapids defender Julien Baudet for a ball at the top of the right side of the penalty box, and was able to lift it over sliding Rapids keeper Matt Pickens to give the Quakes the 1-0 advantage.
Colorado nearly tied the match in the 26th minute, when Omar Cummings took a pass from Pablo Mastroeni and fought through two defenders to get a shot off, forcing Quakes keeper Joe Cannon into a lunging kick save.
In the second half, Cannon twice more prevented the Rapids from tying the match. In the 60th minute, Pat Noonan played a 40-yard pass to Cumming down the middle of the field. Cummings split the San Jose defense but saw his shot once again denied by Cannon. Less than 15 minutes later, Colorado’s Jeff Larentowicz’s 35-yards free-kick cleared the wall but was saved low and on the left by Cannon.
San Jose did well to gain control of possession in the final stages. In the 82nd minute, Quakes forward Cornell Glen got a quick shot off from inside the Rapids’ area, though Matt Pickens reacted quickly to make the diving save. However, a minute later, San Jose would increase their lead when forward Quincy Amarikwa took a through ball down the middle and found the back of the net over a sliding Pickens.
The Rapids had one final chance to get on the scoreboard with three minutes to play, but Mike Holody’s header off a Colin Clark free kick narrowly went over the crossbar.
Colorado are now 1-2-2 in preseason matches, with a final tune-up on Friday, March 19 when the Seattle Sounders visit Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in the Rapids' inaugural Charity Shield (7 pm MT). The team will have Saturday off before flying back to Denver on Sunday night.
SCORING:
SJ- Johnson (Alvarez) 10
SJ- Amarikwa
83
MISCONDUCT:
None
COLORADO RAPIDS - Matt Pickens, Kosuke Kimura (Rob Valentino 67), Drew Moor (Oscar Murillo 67), Julien Baudet (Mike Holody 67), Jure Travner, Danny Earls (Colin Clark 67), Nick LaBrocca (Jeff Larentowicz 67), Pablo Mastroeni (Pat Noonan 46), Wells Thompson (Andy Lorei 67), Conor Casey (Andre Akpan 67), Omar Cummings (Ciaran O’Brien 80).
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES - Joe Cannon, Chris Leitch, Ike Opara (Bobby Burling 65), Jason Hernandez, Ramiro Corrales (Steve Beitashour 70), Joey Gjertsen (Justin Morrow 70), Brad Ring (Eduardo 70), Javier Robles (Simon Elliott 57), Bobby Convey (Antonio Ribeiro 75), Ryan Johnson (Quincy Amarikwa 75), Arturo Alvarez (Cornell Glen 65).
