William Yarbrough (11 saves) preserves tie for Rapids vs. SKC
William Yarbrough made a career-high 11 saves to lead the host Colorado Rapids to a 0-0 draw with Sporting Kansas City in a Western Conference battle on Saturday night in Commerce City, Colo.
It was the 27th career shutout for Yarbrough as Colorado (0-1-1, 1 point) extended its home unbeaten streak to 10 games (5-0-5) while also improving to 16-4-8 all-time in home openers. The Rapids haven't lost at home to Sporting KC since 2014.
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John Pulskamp finished with four saves for his fifth career shutout for Sporting Kansas City (0-1-1, 1 point). The Wizards, who lost their opener at Portland, 1-0, on Monday, are winless in their last nine road matches (0-4-5), dating to a 2-1 victory at CF Montreal on July 9, 2022.
Colorado once again played without injured striker Diego Rubio, but 18-year-old Darren Yapi, making his third career MLS start, nearly scored twice in the first 27 minutes.
Yapi appeared to give the Rapids a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute when he tapped in a rebound of a Sam Nicholson shot in the six-yard box off a Michael Barrios cross. However, a VAR review determined that Yapi was offside at the time Nicholson touched the ball and the score was waived off.
Yapi then headed a crossing pass while colliding with Pulskamp in the 27th minute that caromed off the right post and along the goal-line, where Graham Zusi alertly kicked it out for the Wizards. No goal was awarded on the field on the play and VAR replays were inconclusive.
MLS does not employ goal-line technology.
Sporting Kansas City nearly took the lead in the 71st minute. Yarbrough was forced to make a double save on Erik Thommy's knuckling free kick from outside the middle of the box and then on a point-blank rebound try by Daniel Salloi.
Yarbrough came up big again in the 88th minute when he had to make a diving save on a right-footed shot by Salloi in the middle of the box off a looping pass by Zusi.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Allen Chapman
MLS Standings
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA Galaxy | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | +5 | 15 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | +6 | 13 |
| Houston Dynamo FC | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | +2 | 13 |
| Real Salt Lake | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | +3 | 12 |
| Colorado Rapids | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 12 |
| LAFC | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | +1 | 11 |
| Minnesota United FC | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | +1 | 11 |
| St. Louis CITY SC | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | +1 | 11 |
| Sporting Kansas City | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | +1 | 10 |
| Portland Timbers | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| Austin FC | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | -2 | 9 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | +2 | 6 |
| FC Dallas | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -4 | 5 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | -10 | 3 |
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