Colorado Rapids winger Michael Barrios worked his late-game magic once again, producing another late point Saturday night on the road.
The Colombian scored a 91st-minute stoppage-time equalizer on a hustle goal as Colorado fought back to earn in a 2-2 draw at Bank of America Stadium. The Rapids (1-4-3, 7 points) nearly blew a one-goal lead having conceded two in the span of three minutes in the second half, but the substitute found a way to change the game again with his third goal of 2023.
“It has to do with Mikey’s soccer IQ,” Rapids head coach Robin Fraser said following the game. “He’s such a good attacker that he can see how situations are gonna be dangerous. It would’ve been easy to quit on that play, but like I said, Mikey has this innate understanding of the game.”
Charlotte FC (1-3-4, 7 points) controlled large stretches of the opening half as Colorado’s William Yarbrough was forced into a couple of tight spots, but nothing he couldn’t handle. Charlotte created seven first-half shots but only one was on target in a testy, but scoreless first-half.
Colorado was dealt another injury blow as Littleton’s Cole Bassett had to be replaced by the Brazilian Max in the 29th minute. Bassett was making his way back from injury after missing the last two games with a left hamstring injury. Then, with the ball at his feet on a potential counterattack, he pulled up and seized the same left hamstring. Fraser did not have an immediate status update.
Nine minutes into the second half, Colorado landed the first blow. On an overload on the left-side, Diego Rubio played a ball into space for Sam Nicholson. Seeing a one-on-two scenario, the Scotsman made an extra pass to Max, who scored his first MLS goal to make it 1-0.
While Colorado put pressure on over the next seven minutes, it couldn’t sustain it. In the span of five minutes, the game flipped on its head. In the 62nd minute, Charlotte’s Kevin Vargas slotted a low shot to beat Yarbrough and level the score. Three minutes later, Karol Swiderski chipped in a cross and Kamil Józwiak leaped up and headed it home to make it 2-1.
Colorado was without center back Andreas Maxsø, who sustained a concussion last weekend’s win over Sporting Kansas City. Steven Beitashour started at right back, while Keegan Rosenberry slotted over centrally.
“I felt like other than that 5-10 minute stretch, we were in pretty good control (defensively),” Rosenberry said. “I feel like the group moved well together … It’s still the same concepts even though guys were out of position, guys are bought into the concepts and guys know their roles.”
The Rapids did find their equalizer late, after Bryan Acosta had two shots that fizzed wide, including one off the post. On a cross-field switch of play from Rubio, Barrios who rushed onto the ball. As Charlotte goalkeeper George Marks rushed into the direction of the pass, Barrios “played through the whistle” as the ball got away from Marks and Barrios scored an easy tap-in on a wide-open net.
“As he started to see that ball get played through, he knew for sure something could happen, and because of that he kept running,” Fraser said. “A very rare scenario but he creates a great goal for himself. I can’t speak enough to his ability to understand and read the game.”
Colorado will return home next Saturday to face new expansion side St. Louis City SC. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
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