KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Dillon Powers and Marcelo Sarvas scored late goals and the Rapids beat Sporting Kansas City 2-0 on Wednesday night for their first road victory in the series since 2002.
“It’s a fantastic result,” Rapids coach Pablo Mastroeni said. “It’s by far the best performance of the year.”
Powers chipped goalkeeper Tim Melia at the end of a counterattack in the 78th minute to give the Rapids the lead.
“Two world class goals against a very good team whose got a lot on the line speaks volumes for the kind of character we’ve got in that locker room,” Mastroeni said.
Colorado improved to 9-14-10 and snapped a six-game winless streak that included four straight losses.
Sporting K.C. (13-11-9) would have clinched a playoff spot with a win. Instead it will need to beat Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday to secure a playoff spot.
“We played very smart,” Rapids midfielder Marcelo Sarvas said. “KC had to win, we used this against them, neutralized their strongest and played counterattacks. We did a very good game, one of the best of the season.”
Zac MacMath made his second start of the season for Colorado and got his first shutout. Sam Cronin picked up his second yellow card in the 84th on a high challenge of Jordi Quintilla.
Two minutes later, the 10-man Rapids salted the game away. Sarvas powered in a shot on another breakaway, three minutes after entering the game as a sub.
“I’m happy, it’s always nice to score, especially in a game like this,” Sarvas said.
Sporting K.C.’s best scoring chance came when Dominic Dwyer played a through ball inside the box in the 71st, but Graham Zusi’s shot hit off the crossbar. Two minutes later, MacMath made a kick save of Soni Mustivar’s deflected shot.
“It’s a win, but if you go for reflection, it’s sad,” Sarvas said. “This team deserved much better, being in a much better place than it is right now.”
The last-place Rapids head to Portland to close out the season on Sunday against the Timbers.
