Diego Rubio on song as Colorado Rapids crush Atlanta United

Updated: May 17, 2023, 04:58 am

Diego Rubio notched a goal and an assist as the host Colorado Rapids won their first game of the season, topping Atlanta United 3-0 on Saturday in Commerce City, Colo.

Atlanta United avoided snow as they traveled to Colorado, but they couldn't stop the Rapids from firing in a trio of goals.

Rubio found the back of the net in the 33rd minute to open the scoring for Colorado.

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Lucas Esteves played a cross over the box from the left, where Michael Barrios settled the ball on the right wing. Barrios then crossed the ball towards the penalty area, where Rubio rose above Atlanta defender Alan Franco and headed a shot past goalkeeper Brad Guzan inside the far post.

Atlanta had a chance to equalize just before halftime -- as Matheus Rossetto delivered a ball to the feet of Josef Martinez at the penalty spot -- but the former Golden Boot winner was unable to control the ball and was dispossessed.

Colorado doubled its lead just moments into the second half, as Rubio intercepted a poor touch from Atlanta and then lofted a through ball to Jonathan Lewis. On his first touch, Lewis rifled a shot past Guzan.

The Rapids added another goal in the 87th minute, when Esteves charged into the box with a defender draped on him from the left side. Esteves made a quick move to lose the defender for a moment, then dished the ball back to Andre Shinyashiki, who easily scored on Guzan for his first ever MLS goal.

Things never improved for Atlanta. Despite owning 64 percent of possession and outshooting Colorado 12-8 -- with four shots on-goal -- the Five Stripes couldn't score.

Atlanta defender Miles Robinson was issued a second yellow card in the 86th minute, meaning he'll miss the team's matchup with Charlotte FC next week.

Also for Atlanta, Ronald Hernandez and Dom Dwyer picked up yellow cards. A physical match, Colorado had four yellow cards of its own.

The Five Stripes were already a bit short-handed entering this match. The club announced that veteran Osvaldo Alonso would be sidelined "for precautionary reasons" after consulting with a team cardiologist. A timetable for his return to the lineup is unclear. In Alonso's place, George Campbell started in the defensive midfield, playing 64 minutes and notching one shot-on-goal.