Open Cup Set Piece Kings: Joshua Belluz Debut Goal Seems R2 Down Azteca

COMMERCE CITY – Colorado Rapids 2 hosted Azteca FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Thursday night. It was Rapidos’ first ever match in the Cup and Azteca’s first time against a Rapids club at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park.

R2 manager Erik Bushey had seven players available from the first team. Four of them started, the most prominent being Adam Beaudry in goal and Sebastian Anderson at right back. Nate Jones and Jackson Travis were on the bench. Marlon Vargas captained the side.

Rapids 2 had several big chances from the run of play, but their first half goals came off corners. Center back Joshua Belluz scored in his senior debut in the 13th minute. It was a great knock down header at the near post on the cross from Sebastian Anderson.

“Obviously good for me to get my pro debut and an unexpected goal. Good for the fans to have two teams from Colorado and represent,” Belluz said postgame.

“I knew going in that if I got to my spot on time and the service was good, I was going to be able to do something with it. Exactly how we drew it up.”

At the end of the half, Daniel García had a finesse finish with the right foot inside the six to make it 2-0 at half. Antony García hit the crossbar from the edge of the box. Alec Díaz nearly had a tap in on the counter attack as well.

Azteca gave R2 some trouble more than once. Jovany Herrera took a direct free kick in a dangerous area. Before the second goal, Oscar Montoya had an open look from a sharp angle that curled wide.

Rapids 2 made it 3-0 in the 63rd. Wayne Frederick II did well to set up Díaz for a tap in. The second half for the most part was a training exercise. Azteca’s best look of the night came in the 72nd minute. Brandon Morales dribbled through the box and shot from a sharp angle by Beaudry came off his line to make the point-blank save.

“We saw some of the other results with the MLS NEXT Pro teams and said that wasn’t gonna be us. We were absolutely going to go out there and get a win and show we belong in that competition. We can compete,” Frederick told Burgundy Wave.

Colorado scored a goal in the final few minutes as Díaz got in the way of a shot from García that went in. He was well offside. The match ended 3-0.

Big picture, Rapids 2 took care of business against a lesser opponent and there wasn’t one bad performance in the group. Kimani Stewart-Baynes had some good moments but is still trying to settle in in. Frederick’s movement, instincts, and ball skills are good. He struggled when challenged physically at times. R2 had a lot of turnover and lost plenty of quality from last year. Bushey has them off to a good start so far.

For Azteca, the result should not come as a surprise. But they had plenty of fans in attendance and cheering them on. This will be a great story for the grandkids one day.

“Grateful for the fans that came out tonight for both teams. Azteca had a nice following as well and that was awesome. We’re not where we want to be at this year stage of the season. Tonight was a nice step,” said Bushey.

“It was a great gesture to have the flag there and have Colorado soccer well represented,” Bushey said when asked about the pregame picture both teams took with the Colorado state flag. Rapids staff suggested the joint photo.

Bushey said the following when asked about the very political outfall that led to MLS first teams mostly not partaking in this year’s Open Cup:

“Super excited that we’re the participant on a local level. Not in a selfish way, just for our group and our players, it’s an awesome opportunity. When it first came out that MLS wasn’t going to be in the Open Cup, I was disappointed by that. It’s a long standing event. Well recognized event.

“The best in our country should be represented. There’s a hybrid component. The best are represented. We reap the benefits of this hybrid model. The event is worthy of the best soccer our country has to offer.

“I’m super excited for our program that our players get to participate. It pleases me that we’re able to represent the club. In this event only, we are the Rapids and that’s something that we take very seriously.”

Photo Credit: John Babiak

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