An end to the Colorado Rapids’ two-game clean sheet streak could hardly be taken as a surprise. But a brace from winger Calvin Harris, who hadn’t started a game in more than a month? That certainly wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card.
No doubt, he’ll take it.
Thanks to Harris’ heroics, late goals from midfielder Djordje Mihailovic and forward Rafael Navarro were merely a bonus in a 4-1 win over CF Montréal that rounded out a nine-point week.
“It means a lot. Obviously, you want to have an impact on the game and the best way of doing that is to score goals,” Harris said. “Today, it just all fell into place, so it’s a happy evening for me.”
With the win and a Minnesota United loss, the Rapids moved into fourth place in the Western Conference. In front of 15,583 fans at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, the Rapids scored four goals for the first time since August 2022.
First was a header in the 28th minute off a set piece which Harris earned from a foul on Raheem Edwards. Mihailovic put in a good outswinging ball and Harris got his head to it initially. Montréal keeper Jonathan Sirois got his hands on it, but Harris put the follow back in with ease from point blank range.
Right before halftime, he struck again when Mihailovic found him with a great through ball between two defenders right down the middle. Harris collected, took a touch and buried it calmly in the bottom left corner.
Mihailovic joined the fun with his second goal contribution of the game in second-half stoppage time. A handball was reviewed by VAR and confirmed. Facing his former club, Mihailovic sent Sirois the wrong way to tally his11th goal contribution in his last 10 games.
Off the ensuing kickoff, the Rapids earned possession and immediately pressed the issue again. With the ball on the right outside edge of the penalty box, Mihailovic found midfielder Cole Bassett at the top of the box, who found Navarro just inside the left side. On the first touch, he drilled it to the opposite corner to extend the lead to four.
For Rapids coach Chris Armas, the most impressive thing about Mihailovic is the way he’s integrated himself into the team since arriving in January. The most expensive signing in club history, he’s lived up to expectations on the pitch despite changing countries in the offseason while also expecting a baby.
“Imagine how he felt when he came to the club,” Armas said. “He wants to lead the league in assists, so big demands for himself. … Coming to a new city and a new team, there are big demands. So it’s just getting comfortable. He is so well-respected in that locker room, he’s really comfortable and we’ve seen the quality all along.
“He’s still heating up. The best is yet to come for him.”
The only blemish on the night was an own goal by Rapids center back Lalas Abubakar while trying to clear a squared cross by Montréal forward Sunusi Ibrahim.
Armas and back line teammates Andreas Maxsø and Sam Vines have praised the Ghanaian for his work in Moïse Bombito’s Copa America absence, but Abubakar has had a couple of unfortunate moments in the past week. That included a handball penalty against St. Louis last Wednesday.
Following the match against Montréal, Armas said Abubakar apologized to him for the own goal. Armas’ response? “For what?”
“Sometimes, it’s just unfortunate, some of these things, you know,” Armas said. “I thought (Abubakar) had another strong game. … What he has injected into the lineup — and it’s why he’s a fan favorite — is his energy and intensity. He loves it, he’s passionate.
“Some defenders wouldn’t even put themselves in that spot because it could be an own goal. He takes a chance and he’s fearless. So one goal conceded in three games, he’s a big part of that.”
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Originally Published: June 23, 2024 at 9:07 a.m.
