KANSAS CITY, MO. — Wells Thompson scored his second goal in the 80th minute, giving the Rapids a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Wizards on Tuesday night in a U.S. Open Cup play-in game.
Thompson tied the game at 1-1 in the 24th minute, one-touching a corner kick by Jamie Smith at the far post. He scored the go-ahead goal on a nice slip pass from Claudio Lopez, punching it inside the far post past charging Wizards goalie Eric Kronberg.
Thompson’s game-winner, in the 80th minute, came off an assist from Claudio Lopez, who saw his first action in a Rapids uniform since signing on April 3.
Colorado dodged two near-miss headers in the closing seconds of extra time to advance to a second play-in game in May.
The U.S. Open Cup, originally called the National Challenge Cup, is the oldest soccer competition in the U.S., dating to 1914.
Sunil Chhetri, the first Indian national on a Major League Soccer team, started and played the first half for Kansas City, which got a goal in the fourth minute from Teal Bunbury.
Chhetri agreed to terms on March 25 and was added to the 24-man roster on Monday, after his visa and international transfer certificate were cleared.
U.S. soccer fans might not know much about Chhetri, but the Indian national-team member is one of the most popular players in his home country. The Wizards’ Facebook page has added more than 6,000 fans since Chhetri signed and nearly every move he’s made has been front-page news in India.
Chhetri had a decent scoring chance stopped early and received yellow card in the 20th minute for taking down Thompson from behind. He was replaced by Kei Kamara in the second half.
Bunbury scored by escaping two defenders, racing up the wing and firing a left-foot cross from a tough angle over goalie Steward Ceus’ outstretched hand and off the post.
