Mykhi Joyner put home the decisive shot in shootouts to earn CITY2 an extra point
In a tightly contested match against unbeaten Colorado Rapids 2, CITY2 played to a 0-0 draw and then earned an extra point in shootouts in Matchday 5 of the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro campaign.
CITY2 enforced their will early, pushing Rapids 2 back towards their own goal and forcing the home side into numerous errant passes. It looked as though CITY2 might get on the board after forward Caden Glover forced an interception and sent the ball out wide to midfielder Wan Kuzain, but Colorado’s goalkeeper snagged Kuzain’s subsequent cross back towards the goal before CITY2 could bury it home.
After struggling to break past CITY2’s stifling press, Rapids 2 eventually worked their way down field and found space to send a cross into the box in the 22nd minute. With an attacker sneaking behind CITY2’s backline, Colorado headed the cross on frame from just a few yards out, but CITY goalkeeper Christian Olivares leapt into the air and palmed the ball just over the crossbar to preserve the tie.
Just seven minutes later, Rapids 2 put together an even more dangerous chance after a CITY2 tackle set up a corner kick for the home side. On the ensuing play, a Colorado attacker headed the ball on goal from point-blank range, but Olivares jumped in front of it to make another top-class save. With halftime approaching, Glover tried to get CITY2 on the board with a running shot from just outside the box, but the shot barreled just wide of the post opposite him.
In the 56th minute, CITY2 benefitted from a handball called against the home side deep in their own half. Midfielder Max Schneider booted a bending free kick towards the goal, but a fingertip save from Colorado’s goalkeeper nudged the ball over the goal and out of play. Following some back-and-forth action, a Rapids 2 player threaded a pass between multiple CITY2 defenders to an undefended teammate streaking down the middle of the field. Unfazed by the one-versus-one situation, Olivares charged off his line, fell to his left and tapped the ball out of play to keep the match even.
CITY2 had one last chance to get on the board after winning another free kick deep in Colorado’s half in the 91st minute, but Rapids 2 snuffed out the play off the set piece.
A point already in hand with the 0-0 draw, CITY2 bagged an additional point after winning shootouts 5-4.
UP NEXT
Returning to CITYPARK, CITY2 will face off against Whitecaps FC 2 on Sunday, April 30.
STARTING LINEUP
Caden Glover (Aziel Jackson 66’), Faysal Bettache (Ryley Gibbs 79’), Max Schneider, AJ Palazzolo (Mykhi Joyner 80’), John Klein, Wan Kuzain (Larsen Hackworth 85’), Sergio Rivas (Ezra Armstrong 80’), Fritz Volmar, Michael Wentzel, Owen O’Malley, Christian Olivares
SUBSTITUTES NOT USED:
Dida Armstrong, Eric Walker, Nolan McGuire, Josh Maher
