Rapids Hold Off Juarez to Advance

08/10/2024 06:47 AM

FC Juarez 2-3 Colorado Rapids

COMMERCE CITY, CO–Colorado Rapids move on the Round of 16 in Leagues Cup as they held off FC Juarez of Liga MX, 3-2, at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. FC Juarez got the first goal of the match in the 18th minute when Angel Zaldivar scored off the rebound after Zack Steffen made the initial save off Diego Campillo.

However, the Rapids were given quite a gift ten minutes later when Francisco Calvo was stripped of the ball by Rafael Navarro who fed Jonathan Lewis for an easy finish. The Rapids would get another gift before halftime as VAR spotted an FC Juarez handball in the area and Djordje Mihailovic converted the spot kick to put the Rapids ahead.

In the 59th minute, more comic capers in the Juarez defense led to the third goal for the Rapids off a corner kick. Calvo’s attempted clearance pinballed off Navarro and the crossbar before Calvin Harris bundled the ball over the line.

FC Juarez would get a penalty themselves with help from VAR as Connor Ronan took down Aviles Hurtado in the box. Hurtado converted the spot kick and make it 3-2 with 19 minutes left. Los Bravos had several chances to get an equalizer, but none would be taken and the final kick would be a chance spurned by Diego Valoyes.

The Rapids advance to the Round of 16 to face Toluca, who defeated Houston Dynamo on penalties on Friday, on Tuesday night in Colorado with kickoff time to be announced.

For more of Linda Brothers’s photos from the match, please click on the link to her gallery.