Rapids, Whitecaps preserve unbeaten streaks with draw

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:22 am

Yordy Reyna's 80th-minute free kick earned the Vancouver Whitecaps a 2-2 draw against the visiting Colorado Rapids on Saturday night.

Forward Fredy Montero also scored for the Whitecaps (4-6-7, 19 points), who recovered from a two-goal deficit after 20 minutes. Vancouver is unbeaten in its last five matches (1-0-4).

Midfielders Diego Rubio and Andre Shinyashiki scored goals for the Rapids (4-9-4, 16 points). Goalkeeper Tim Howard recorded seven saves as Colorado stretched its unbeaten streak to six matches (4-0-2).

Vancouver had a 22-14 edge in shots, putting nine on target compared with five for the Rapids.

- Vela, Rooney, Nani make MLS All-Star Fan XI

Reyna had some good fortune while scoring his second goal of the season on a free kick from just outside the box.

His blast sailed through the wall -- nearly hitting the head of Colorado defender Lalas Abubakar -- and caromed off the left post and into the goal, stunning a disbelieving Howard.

Zac MacMath made two saves for the Whitecaps. He spent the previous four seasons with the Rapids before being traded to Vancouver for midfielder Nicolas Mezquida.

Colorado struck first in the eighth minute when Mezquida took the corner kick and sent the ball toward the goal. It bounced once and traveled through the box to Rubio, who was stationed at the post and easily headed the ball into the net for his third goal of the campaign.

Yordy Reyna and Felipe Martins
Yordy Reyna and Felipe Martins
Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

Mezquida also had a hand in the goal that made it 2-0 in the 20th minute. He sent a cross into the box and forward Kei Kamara headed it over to Shinyashiki, who tapped the ball into the net with his right knee for his fourth goal of the season.

Kamara nearly made it 3-0 in the 34th minute when he put a high shot on goal. MacMath had the ball bounce off his hands and then reached back to swipe it away just as the ball was about to cross the goal line.

Vancouver finally got on the board in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. Rubio knocked down defender Ali Adnan in the box and a penalty kick was awarded to the Whitecaps.

Montero took the shot and Howard darted to his right. Montero went the other way, easily finding the net for his sixth goal of the season.