Colorado Rapids edge Minnesota United with goal deep in stoppage time

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:29 am

Defender Tommy Smith headed in a corner kick on the final play of the game in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time, and Tim Howard had six saves as the Colorado Rapids rallied for a 3-2 victory over Minnesota United on Saturday night in Commerce City, Colo.

Joe Mason and Edgar Castillo also scored for the Rapids, who snapped a nine-game winless streak while garnering their first MLS win since a 2-0 victory over Toronto FC on April 14.

Miguel Ibarra and Christian Ramirez scored for the Loons, who played the final 13 minutes plus stoppage time with just 10 men after Ibarra, who also assisted on Ramirez's goal, was red-carded.

Bobby Shuttleworth stopped four shots for Minnesota United FC, which dropped its sixth straight MLS road contest.

Howard, who made a nice save when Ibarra came in alone inside the right side of the penalty box in the ninth minute, wasn't as fortunate 11 minutes later on a shot by Loons midfielder Darwin Quintero just to the left of the goal box.

Howard got his left hand and shin on the attempt, but the ball squirted to just outside the middle of the goal line, where Ibarra beat Rapids defenders and slammed in the rebound to give Minnesota United an early 1-0 lead.

Tommy Smith
Tommy Smith
Russell Lansford-USA TODAY Sports

The Rapids then tied it in the 50th minute on a goal on a brilliant right-footed strike by Castillo from the left edge of the penalty box. The ball curled just inside the corner of the top far post for his second goal of the season.

Ramirez then put the Loons back ahead, 2-1, in the 65th minute with his fourth goal of the season. He had an easy tap-in into a wide open left side of the net off a crossing pass from Ibarra that eluded a diving Howard.

Mason, who had come into the game less than a minute earlier, tied it in the 74th minute. He cut past Loons defender Brent Kallman, who slipped on the turf, and then flicked in a shot from just inside the penalty box over Shuttleworth for his third goal of the season.

A melee then ensued as Ibarra shoved Jack Price as he dribbled the ball away during dead time, and the Minnesota midfielder received a red card for violent conduct.