Colorado Rapids 2 Finally Beat MNUFC2 on James Cameron Goal! Head to MLS NEXT Pro Cup Final!

Commerce City, CO – Colorado Rapids 2 have finally gotten one over on Minnesota United FC 2. And it could not have come at a better time. R2 hosted MNUFC2 on Sunday night in the MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference Final. The winner would play on the road in the MLS NEXT Pro Cup Final. Rapidos had lost to the Loons in three matches in the regular season by an aggregate score of 6-2.

R2 manager Erik Bushey went chalk with his lineup. Despite dealing with a knock recently, Sydney Wathuta was able to start in a central attacking role. Billo Diop was in the attack. Rapids academy goalkeeper Zack Campagnolo was in goal. For Minnesota, the headliner was Evergreen native, striker Logan Dorsey, who worked under Bushey at Colorado Rush. He has haunted Colorado and Bushey in several games.

The visitors were the better team in the first half. They worked hard in transition. R2 weren’t good enough on the ball, especially the fullbacks.

The Loons opened the scoring in the 20th. They got the ball in the final third off a goal kick. Anderson Rosa didn’t control the ball. Troy Putt found Dorsey for tap in. The Evergreen native would be subbed off before halftime for an injury, to the relief of R2.

The home side had better energy after the 35th minute. Wathuta and Sam Bassett were good in possession. Campagnolo made a great save on Dorsey before the injury. R2’s best look was a blocked Diop shot in the 44th.

R2 carried that energy over to the second half. In the 50th minute, Bassett slipped a ball to Alex Harris in a gap and Harris scored far bottom corner. It was 1-1 with 40 minutes to go.

The game opened up after that. Kieran Chandler hit the crossbar with a cross that Campagnolo had trouble reading. A minute later, R2 had a great look off a set piece throw in.

It was quickly taken, sending Wathuta down the line with time and space. He crossed into the box to a wide open James Cameron. A thumping header from the Canadian made it 2-1.

From that point on, MNUFC2 were as dangerous. They got into space and made the Colorado center backs sweat. Campagnolo made the save of the game in the 67th, saving a Randall shot after Charlie Harper nearly cleared a loose ball. On 76 minutes, Wathuta found Diop for a near breakaway. Diop took a poor first touch and the shot was fought off by goalkeeper Kayna Rizvanovich.

Diop held the ball up. The defense dealt with late crosses. They held the ball up and earned fouls. Intensity won out in stoppage time and Rapids 2 were victorious. They will play New York Red Bulls II next weekend at Sports Illustrated.

A cathartic victory given the opponent and context:

The word of the night was cathartic. This was Rapids 2’s bogey team. Dorsey has haunting them. And two years ago, R2 came into the WCF as the favorite and lost in heartbreaking penalties. They finally conquered their demons against the Loons. Bushey can be at peace with 2023, in a year in which he lost his father.

“It feels better tonight than two years ago. That pain from two years ago allowed us tonight to feel that much better. That’s why I’m in the game. My heart goes out to those guys (the 2023 team), for me, were the best team in the country. It was equally as important for this group to stand alone to earn their own way. We’re grateful of this. We’re reminded of where we were a year ago. Hopefully we can enjoy more emotional moments together,” said Bushey.

“With Minnesota, they’ve had our chain these past three games. Tonight wasn’t the night we would lose this game. Four times in a row, it’s obviously terrible,” added Wathuta.

Flipping the script at halftime:

It took 40 minutes for the real Rapids 2 to show up. Bushey galvanized the group at halftime. This playoff run, they’ve made a habit of “flipping the script.”

Last game of the year against Vancouver, they drop points in a 0-0 draw. First playoff game, they win 3-2. In May, they hosted The Town and lost 0-3. Second playoff game, they beat them 2-4 in extra time on the road. In three games against Minnesota, three losses. This game was another microcosm of their season and the progress made.

“It’s a big deal for us, our program. Super proud of the players for what was a very difficult game and rising to the challenge. The first moment we showed up was 40 minutes. The second half we were there for every second. It was so important that we not leave the stadium tonight without showing the many people who came here to support us who we really are,” said Bushey.

“We flipped the script. We went 0-0 with Vancouver. Turn that into a 3-2 win. 0-3 against The Town. You flip that to 4-2. Three games in a row against Minnesota, we lost. We got to flip the script. We did.”

It resonated with the player. He told Wathuta to be a calming force. He made the team promise this wasn’t going to be how their season would end.

“He just inspired us. We didn’t want to end our season playing like that. He drilled into us: ‘Leave a legacy.’ We haven’t played the best against Minnesota. We just needed to wipe that half way and start on a clean slate. We were able to do that,” said Alex Harris.

Big games from big players:

What a night for the exciting young prospects. Bassett with the assist to Harris. Wathuta with the assist on the winner. Cameron with another clutch goal. He’s got 6 in his last 11 games. As a fullback, no less.Diop with great hold up play. Stellar defensive work from Campagnolo and the back line.

“We want to be the better team. But we’re going to need individuals to be difference makers. We got that. The best team needs individuals to step up,” Bushey said of the team.

This was a team performance, but football is still about moments. The kids showed up when the moment called for it.

“Zack, over these past few games, he’s made some huge saves. Them at the back, I’m never stressed when I got them behind me,” Wathuta said of the defense.

“Two times ago when we played Minnesota, Sydney and I had the exact same play. I missed the header. When it was coming in this time, I had to lock in, make sure I put that away,” Cameron said of the winner.

“Scoring for me is my life force. I definitely have a scoring addiction. Recently, I’ve been able to do that.”

James Cameron needs to work on his celebrations:

To be clear, this did not affect the result. But we have to talk about James Cameron doing the knee slide to celebrate the winner. Some thought he broke his nose given how hard Wathuta hit that cross. Cameron said the header and celebration looked more painful than they were.

“I need a better field. That corner was straight sand. My knee hurts more than my face. I just got stuck,” Cameron joked.

Sometimes adrenaline takes over and technique goes out the window.

“It was just electric. Knee slide in front of everybody. None of us really cared. We were just all so happy that he scored,” Harris said.

He went on to say fullbacks don’t score as much, so maybe he needs to practice his headers and celebrations. Red Bulls have a good pitch so he should be ok for the final.

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