Keegan Rosenberry’s goal in the 77th minute lifted the Rapids to a 2-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday night in Commerce City, Colo., the win keeping Colorado’s faint playoff hopes alive.
The Rapids (10-12-9, 39 points) won their second straight match after a six-game winless streak. Diego Rubio also scored for the hosts, raising his season goal total to 14.
Colorado’s win coupled with Real Salt Lake’s loss Wednesday (3-0 to Austin FC) keeps the Rapids four points out of a tie for the seventh and last playoff spot in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference. The Rapids sit in 10th place, while Real Salt Lake holds the seventh position.
San Jose (7-14-9, 30 points) was officially eliminated from playoff contention with the loss. The last-place Earthquakes have dropped three of their past five games.
After Rubio’s 21st-minute goal — on which he controlled a one-hop pass, settled the ball and fired from distance — San Jose’s Nathan tied the score in the 37th minute. Cristian Espinoza sent in a corner kick that Nathan redirected with a header coming from the far side of the box, and the Earthquakes were in position to play spoiler.
However, Rosenberry elevated a shot from outside the box that found the net late in the match to give Colorado the lead for good.
The Earthquakes had a great chance to draw even again in the 85th minute when Jeremy Ebobisse controlled a ball in the box and brought it down, but his shot was high over the goal.
The Earthquakes outshot the Rapids 15-13, but both teams had three shots on goal. Colorado goalie William Yarbrough was credited with two saves, and San Jose goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski stopped one shot.
The Rapids’ final three regular-season matches are at the slumping LA Galaxy, at home against potentially playoff-bound FC Dallas and away at Austin FC, who clinched a postseason berth on Wednesday.
–Field Level Media
