For the second straight Desert Diamond Cup match, Colorado Rapids grabbed a lead on a Gabriel Torres goal, only to later concede the equalizer and end in a draw. Saturday’s 1-1 draw with New England Revolution comes on the heels of .
The Rapids goal came in the 48th minute as Senegalese striker Dominique Badji flicked forward a long ball, finding the Rapids’ Panamanian designated player. Torres outran Revs center back José Gonçalves and calmly slotted it home for his second goal in as many matches.
The lead didn’t last long. In the 54th minute, Revs attacker Diego Fagundez collected a ball and took on Rapids center back Axel Sjoberg near the edge of the area, dribbling past him and chipping a finish over an on-rushing Clint Irwin.
In the 85th minute, the Rapids had a chance to regain the lead after Dillon Powers stole a ball near the sideline and played a perfect diagonal through ball into the path of Deshorn Brown who was making a run through the center of the defense, but Brown’s shot went over the crossbar.
Irwin made a game-saving save in the third minute of added time, after Fagundez slipped a pass behind the Rapids defense to a streaking Steve Neumann. Irwin stuffed the shot to preserve the draw. Earlier, Irwin came up with a quick diving save on a Daigo Kobayashi header in the 23rd minute to help preserve a scoreless first half.
The game also marked the Rapids preseason debut of Juan Ramirez, the second designated player in club history. Ramirez got the start on the left wing and played 57 minutes, a day after .
MLS journeyman James Riley also made a surprise appearance in the match, his Rapids preseason debut. The 32-year-old Colorado Springs native after Los Angeles Galaxy declined his option in December. The Rapids announced on Twitter he was available off the bench before the match, and Riley was subbed on in the 67th minute.
Footnotes: Marcelo Sarvas wore the captain’s armband for the Rapids before handing it off to Sam Cronin in the 72nd minute… Shane O’Neill was set to start at center back, but missed the match because he was “under the weather,” the club announced on Twitter. Jared Watts started in his place… Marlon Hairston made his preseason debut at right back, a .
RAPIDS LINEUP
Clint Irwin; Marlon Hairston (James Riley, 67), Jared Watts (Bobby Burling, 72), Axel Sjoberg, Michael Harrington (Marc Burch, 72), Lucas Pittinari (Sam Cronin, 72), Marcelo Sarvas (Nick Labrocca, 72), Vicente Sanchez (Carlos Alvarez, 57), Gabriel Torres (Dillon Powers, 72), Juan Ramirez (Dillon Serna, 57), Dominique Badji (Deshorn Brown, 72)
