Calvin Harris scored two goals in the first half to lift the Colorado Rapids over visiting CF Montreal 4-1 on Saturday night at Commerce City, Colo.
The Rapids were playing their third match in the last eight days. Djordje Mihailovic scored on a late penalty kick and Rafael Navarro tallied in extra time, as Colorado overcame an own goal from Lalas Abubakar.
Colorado (9-7-4, 31 points) scored at least three goals for the fourth time in its last seven matches.
Montreal (4-8-7, 19 points) lost for the first time in six matches, though the team’s record is 1-1-4 during that span. Goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois recorded five saves.
His Colorado counterpart, Zack Steffen made one save.
Harris had just one goal in his first eight starts of the season. His first goal of the match came on a header in the 28th minute when he redirected the ball after Sirois made an initial save.
He tacked on the next goal off an assist from Mihailovic in the 45th minute. It came from a slow development sequence from midfield before the Rapids rose to another level, and Harris outraced Montreal players in the box to convert.
The own goal came in the 53rd minute, pulling Montreal within 2-1.
But the Rapids showed some good sustained attacks and eventually broke through again.
Mihailovic’s penalty kick in the 90th minute allowed him to keep his personal momentum going, upping his season total to nine goals. He scored three on Wednesday night at St. Louis.
That penalty kick was set up by a hand ball on Montreal’s George Campbell.
Cole Bassett assisted on Navarro’s team-leading 11th goal, which came two minutes into second-half stoppage time.
Montreal was without defender Joaquin Sosa, who served a suspension for accumulation of yellow cards.
–Field Level Media
