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In a matchup pitting two of the worst teams in the Western Conference, the Colorado Rapids hosted the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night. After taking an early 1-0 lead on a goal by Tommy Smith, the Rapids conceded a penalty to let the ‘Quakes back in the game at 1-1. But a stoppage time goal from Bismarck “Nana” Boateng helped Colorado steal the 2-1 win in extra time.

Here are some takeaways from the Rapids 2-1 win:

All aboard the “Nana” Boat

When the Rapids picked up Nana Boateng from Manchester City in January of 2017, it was a highly-touted signing and one that Colorado fans were excited about. But a back injury early in his Rapids career followed by a mixture of mediocre performance and an inability to find a consistent place in the lineup has made his time in Colorado a difficult one for both player and fans alike.

Saturday’s goal – Boateng’s first for Colorado and in MLS – marked a high point, however.

“It’s been a very long road for us this season,” the Ghanaian said postgame. “But we came out here every single day and we trained very, very hard. And finally, we are getting the result we need. And I think its great for me and the boys and for the fans.”

Still, at just 24-years-old, Boateng still has plenty of career left ahead of him, and the Rapids brass are optimistic for his development, with GM Padraig Smith pointing out Boateng as one of Colorado’s young promising players in his Q&A with fans on Thursday.

Acosta Benefit Analysis

For all the criticism the Rapids and GM Padraig Smith have taken, the trade of Dominique Badji for Kellyn Acosta may prove to be one of the best – if not the best – moves of the recently closed MLS summer transfer window.

Since acquiring Acosta, Colorado has played some of the best soccer of its 2018 campaign, earning six points in the table in from the three games in which the 23-year-old midfielder has played. If not for a missed penalty and late own-goal against D.C. United, the points total could’ve been seven or nine points.

During the Rapids’ recent stretch of positive results, the team has been better in passing, possession, and chances created and Acosta has been a big part of that, as his distribution diagram shows:

“We’ve been playing better football, our stats are up, our passing stats are like .500 and we’re dominating possession and percentage-wise, that’s helpful, pretty good at home,” Rapids captain and goalkeeper Tim Howard said.

Acosta now has two goals and an assist to his name in three games played for Colorado.

Brighton-ing up Colorado’s lineup

As a Colorado native and Homegrown player, Rapids fans have been fully behind Dillon Serna. But as Anthony Hudson explained to the media (and subsequently, the fans), he chooses his lineups on performance in both training and games. With strong performance in practice leading up to the match, and also in games, the Brighton, Colo. native is earning his place in Hudson’s lineup and did much to further impress the coach on Saturday, following his first-half replacement of Enzo Martinez.

Less than 10 minutes into his appearance, Serna showed immediate impact with both a defensive stop and a shot that pinged off the crossbar which nearly put the Rapids up 2-0. Like Acosta, Serna is a piece that can help with Colorado’s passing, ball distribution, and the type of attacking football which Padraig Smith defines as “The Rapids Way”.

“I have to mention Dillon (Serna) again because he’s had a tough year,” Hudson said in his post-match presser. “It’s been tough for him, but I’ve loved his reaction, his response.”

The post Dillon Serna’s day out and other takeaways from the Colorado Rapids 2-1 win over San Jose appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – In a matchup of league bottom dwellers, the Colorado Rapids and San Jose Earthquakes faced off to contest the fabled MLS wooden spoon trophy. After an exchanging of goals between the two sides, midfielder Bismarck “Nana” Boateng scored the game-winner in stoppage time, leading Colorado to a 2-1 home win Saturday night.

It marked the second-straight win for Colorado in as many games, and the first time the Rapids have won back-to-back matches in 2018.

“I wish it wasn’t another late one,” Rapids head coach Anthony Hudson said postgame. “I’m sure it was exciting for the fans, but it should have been taken care of in the first half, to be honest.”

While Colorado has been trending positively with eight points tallied over the past five matches, Hudson pointed out that it’s far from celebration time.

“We’ve won a couple of games,” he continued. “We’re still fighting for our lives at the wrong end of the table.”

Rapids golden boot leader Tommy Smith opened the scoring in the 24th minute with his headed effort, assisted by Kellyn Acosta, to put Colorado in front 1-0. It marked the third goal of the season for Smith, and the third-straight match in which Acosta has notched either a goal or an assist.

A tactical decision by Hudson led to Enzo Martinez subbing out for Dillon Serna in the 28th minute. Playing centrally, the Homegrown had an immediate impact on the match, notching a defensive stop in the 32nd minute and a shot from the edge of box, which pinged off the crossbar five minutes.

“With Dillon, when we see him in training, he’s got so much energy,” Hudson said of Serna. “When he played against Boca Juniors I said, “I want to see that more often.” We needed an injection of energy at that stage. I thought he did really well.”

San Jose also produced its fair share of first-half chances, but the visitors’ best opportunity to equalize came in the 42nd minute. Shea Salinas ripped a right-footed shot from outside the box, but the midfielder was denied by Tim Howard.

Colorado dominated firsthalf possession with nearly 60 percent of the ball, but only held a slight edge in shots (7-6), while San Jose produced more on-target chances with three.

The Earthquakes eventually tied the game in the second half. Rapids centerback Kortne Ford conceded a penalty in the 57th minute. Magnus Eriksson stepped up to take the penalty for San Jose and buried it to the left of Tim Howard, leveling the match at 1-1.

Substitute Niki Jackson nearly took back the lead for Colorado in the 74th minute, but his headed effort was above the mark.

In the 88th minute, San Jose went down to 10 men following a red card issued to Salinas for violent conduct. Salinas was involved in a scrum between the two teams following a tactical foul and subsequent yellow card by Serna.

Colorado benefited from the man advantage as Boateng scored the game winner, sneaking his low shot past Tarbell to give the Rapids the 2-1 advantage.

“We just kept going and going,” Boateng said of the late effort by Colorado. “It’s been a long road this season. Finally, we’re getting the results we need.”

Colorado will now embark on a two-game Los Angeles road trip, facing L.A. Galaxy in Carson, Calif., Tuesday night before heading to Banc of California Stadium to face LAFC four days later. San Jose returns to Avaya Stadium next Saturday to host Toronto FC.

The post Colorado Rapids leave it late again, defeating San Jose 2-1 in stoppage time appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.