Navarro, Steffen propel Rapids to victory over Whitecaps
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Rafael Navarro scored on a penalty kick after Vancouver’s Bjørn Inge Utvik drew a crimson card throughout first-half stoppage time and Zack Steffen made it arise because the Rapids beat the Whitecaps 1-0 on Wednesday evening.
Utvik, a rookie defender making his fourth begin and sixth look, drew a hand ball foul following a video evaluate. Navarro transformed the PK within the fifth minute of stoppage time with a right-footed shot to the underside proper nook of the online.
Navarro is 4 for 4 on penalty kicks this season. He has scored in three straight matches and has seven objectives and two assists. The 24-year-old ahead had a aim and an help in 10 appearances — all begins — final season, his first within the league.
Steffen completed with two saves for his third clear sheet of the season for Colorado (6-4-3).
Yohei Takaoka saved two pictures for Vancouver (5-4-3).
Colorado was coming off a 3-2 loss at house to the San Jose Earthquakes through which the Rapids blew a 2-0 lead.
The Whitecaps entered play with a 3-1-3 file of their final seven matches with Colorado.
The victory vaults the Rapids previous the Whitecaps and right into a four-way tie for second place within the Western Conference, 4 factors shy of high canine Real Salt Lake. Colorado completed final within the West final season. The Rapids have accrued 21 factors to this point, simply six lower than their season-ending complete in 2023.
Vancouver stays on the highway to play the Seattle Sounders on Saturday. Colorado travels to play Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
