[MLS] Colorado Defeats Montreal 4-1

 

(Commerce City, CO = Wongeol Jeong) On the 22nd local time, the Colorado Rapids hosted CF Montreal for an MLS regular season match.

Colorado started with a 4-2-3-1 formation, while Montreal opted for a 3-4-3 formation.

Colorado positioned Rafael Navarro as the central forward, and Montreal placed Sunusi Ibrahim, who leads the team with six goals during this season, in the center forward position.

In the 15th minute of the first half, Colorado had a free kick opportunity from the left side of the opponent’s goal, but the kicker Mihailovic’s shot just missed the left goal post, eliciting groans from the fans.

Colorado’s Sam Vines on the left and Calvin Harris on the right played as wingers, constantly troubling Montreal’s goalkeeper.

Mihailovic, acting as a withdrawn forward from the center, created many scoring chances throughout the game.

In the 26th minute of the first half, Colorado won another free kick opportunity on the right side of the opponent’s goal area.

Mihailovic delivered the kick, and it connected with Calvin Harris’s head, resulting in a goal. With this goal, Colorado took a 1-0 lead.

Colorado operated with a formation closer to 4-2-4 during the actual game, showcasing the strategic acumen of their new coach, Armas.

Colorado players such as Cole Bassett, Kévin Cabral, and Calvin Harris continuously generated scoring opportunities.

In the 45th minute of the first half, as the clock was winding down, Calvin Harris successfully slotted Mihailovic’s short pass into the left corner of the opponent’s goal, ending the first half with a 2-0 lead for Colorado.

In the 53rd minute of the second half, a mistake occurred in Colorado’s defense.

Abubakar accidentally pushed the ball into his own goal off a cross from an opposing player, resulting in an own goal and bringing the score to 2-1.

In the 89th minute, near the end of the game, Colorado was awarded a penalty kick due to a handball foul by an opposing player near the penalty area. Mihailovic precisely shot the ball into the right corner of the opponent’s goal, extending the score to 3-1.

Shortly after Mihailovic’s goal, in the 91st minute of the second half, Rafael Navarro converted a pass from Cole Bassett into a goal.

With this final goal, Colorado defeated Montreal 4-1.

With this victory, Colorado added another win to their record, bringing them to 9 wins, 7 losses, and 4 draws, ranking 4th in the Western League.