David Garcia Walkoff! Hailstorm Beat Rapids 2 in Extra Time!

COMMERCE CITY – The second ever South Platte River Derby did not disappoint. Erik Bushey, Wayne Frederick II, and Colorado Rapids 2 hosted Éamon Zayed, Irvin Parra, and Northern Colorado Hailstorm in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

It was a first-choice lineup for Rapids 2. All seven players from the first team that were eligible started. Alec Diaz started up top. For Hailstorm, they still had some injured wingers on the bench. Parra started up top and was captain for Hailstorm. Jackson Dietrich returned to starting as well.

It was a tight and competitive first half with few chances. Real Gill had a good look from a sharp angle that went wide. Irvin Parra was contained by the Rapids center backs. Adam Beaudry had a difficult corner to deal with, but he punched the ball out.

R2 arguably should have been up 1-0 just before halftime. Sebastian Anderson took a set piece. NoCo goalkeeper Lalo Delgado did not get enough to it and Edwards tapped it in. A foul was called in the build up, possibly on Edwards for obstructing the keeper.

The rivalry came to life in the second stanza. Two minutes in, captain Marlon Vargas found Frederick running through a gap. The Duke Blue Devil chested the ball down well and finished with just the keeper to beat.

Marky Hernández had been on the field for three minutes in the 59th. Rendon delivered a great outlet ball to Noah Powder. Powder dribbled forward then squared the ball into space. Hernández shot first time. The shot was blocked but he buried the rebound.

NoCo went on to dominate much of the second half. They were the better team in the final 30 minutes. They had more of the ball and created several chances. Ethan Hoard had a breakaway, but was called offside. Brecc Evans uncorked a shot from 30 yards out that Adam Beaudry had to play out for a corner.

“We looked way off the pace in the first half. Possession wise, they did what they wanted. Second half we were better. The goal did wake us up,” Zayed told Burgundy Wave.

They rightfully took the lead with 10 minutes to go. Off a turnover at midfield, Hernández delivered a great through ball. Fellow substitute Ethan Hoard got in behind. He cut inside and shot hard. The ball took a deflection and snuck past Beaudry.

“There was a lot of space in behind. Éamon told me if you’re going to beat someone, beat someone and shoot, don’t beat someone and dribble. I just shot when I got the chance,” Hoard said. “It meant a lot because we know how much Colorado Rapids means in the area. It meant a lot to come down here and play.”

Rapids 2 needed an answer and they got it in stoppage time. Facundo Nunez had a shot blocked that fell to Kimani Stewart-Baynes. The winger with a vision board buried it far corner to send the match to extra time, tied 2-2.

NoCo could have had a penalty in the final minute of regular time. David Garcia appeared to be shoved to the ground as a cross came in.

Extra time was a midfield mosh pit, occasionally interrupted by a big chance. Vargas had a shot at the top of the box he punted. Hailstorm had two chances on a play with Beaudry out of position. David Garcia had an open header on a corner that he couldn’t get on target.

Garcia would get his redemption though. Some great passing saw NoCo open up the Rapids defense in the 120th. Lucky Opara passed the ball off to Garcia for an open goal. The defender buried it and Hailstorm erupted. The match ended 2-3.

“The first half, especially, we were poor. But then we kept getting better and better throughout the game. In the end we got the result we wanted,” said Garcia.

Moments define games:

Matches like this are often defined by moments and individuals, not themes over several minutes. There were 10 big moments in this game, and Hailstorm had one more go their way. R2’s starters averaged 21-years-old while NoCo were nearly 26. The experience and extra rest showed in those moments, with Rapids 2 playing on Sunday and Hailstorm off on Easter weekend.

“They’re a good team. They looked leggy, 75 minutes. I felt we’re going to get chances. It’s just are we going to take it,” Zayed said.

“We were a bit slow to create a bit of tempo. We could have done more as we broke from our deep defending. The shape is all over the place. We didn’t end the play further away from our goal. We got punished for it. Those transition moments are a bit difficult. We got punished for being a fraction of a second late,” said Bushey.

All three goals conceded came in which the back line was stretched out. The midfield wasn’t in position to help.

“We need to keep doubling back when the ball gets behind us. That’s an area we’re going to look at and improve on. Those lapses in thinking. We’ll get it sorted out,” Frederick added.

All three Hailstorm goals came from substitutes. Zayed jokingly called in genius, pushing the right buttons. Before Garcia’s goal, the player asked the bench if he could go up. Zayed gave the right back permission and it worked out.

Bushey summed it up well, saying “key moments define big games. Unfortunately we were on the wrong end of them tonight.”

The officiating balanced out in the end.

Over 30 fouls committed between the two teams. There were plenty of no calls though, with hard tackles to win the ball. Adam Rice called a balanced, albeit imperfect game. That goal by Edwards in the first half probably should have stood. Hailstorm had that penalty shout that was not called. Was it a makeup call? Either way, it evened out. For the derby, well done.

“The ref ruled a goal out for them right before halftime. It easily could have been given as a goal. Both sets of coaches weren’t particularly happy. Maybe in the end it evens itself out,” Zayed said with relief.

Physicality and intensity: This was a rivalry game.

This game mattered to everyone involved. Nate Jones and Irvin Parra battled. Jackson travis and Bruno Rendon fouled each other a few times. The two coaches said this game was a big deal. There was plenty of banter.

“The could have been worthy winners tonight. They put in an excellent shift. I wanted them to experience the next round. Very tough game. Typical goals to concede. Disappointed to not be representing Colorado in the next round,” lamented R2 manager Erik Bushey.

“It would have been extra disappointment to lose to an instate team,” added his opposite coach.

Hailstorm friends and family made the most noise at times, especially after their second goals. A dozen fans in Section 117 cheered and jeered. The South Platte River Derby is a rivalry now, no question.

Photo Credit: John Babiak

Thank you for reading Burgundy Wave. Support us via our Patreon starting at $5/month. We’re always looking for new talent. Let us know if you’re interested in covering Colorado Soccer.