COMMERCE CITY — Rapids midfielder Dillon Serna’s long road back culminated in the 79th minute of Colorado’s 1-0 season opening win Saturday over .
The 16,126 in attendance at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park gave the Rapids homegrown midfielder a huge round of applause as he subbed into the match, replacing . It was the Brighton native’s first appearance since tearing his ACL in a June 29 U.S. Open Cup match.
“It was great,” Serna said of the ovation. “I couldn’t ask for anything better than that. I’ve had so much support from everyone the last eight months and just being able to come back here at home in front of our fans, it was incredible.”
Serna, who did not appear in a preseason match, said he feels fit and looks forward to adding game sharpness coming off the bench. The midfielder added upper body muscle during his rehab and said he hopes to work his way back into the starting 11.
MacMath’s big save. Goalkeeper Zac MacMath came up with a big stop in the 16th minute, parrying away a shot by Revolution striker Kei Kamara to keep the game scoreless.
“We kind of got caught a little bit,” MacMath said. “Kei’s really good at coming off the back shoulders of center backs and he got open. I think he miss-hit it a little bit, which kind of made it a little bit awkward for me, but thankfully I kept my balance enough to get a full hand on it.”
MacMath said the clean sheet validated the defensive work the team has put in during preseason, but he knows no matter how many shutouts he posts, the job will go to when he’s healthy.
“I’m just taking it game by game and when he’s ready, he’s ready,” MacMath said.
Sjöberg vs. Kamara. The last time the 6-3 Kamara faced the Rapids’ 6-7 center back Axel Sjöberg, Kamara scored two goals and the Swede was shown two yellow cards. It was a different story Saturday.
“They did well today,” Kamara said. “Not just Sjöberg, but (center back Jared) Watts at the same time. They both did well keeping an eye on me and knowing where I was at.”
Kamara took four shots, but only one was on target.
“Axel and Wattsy did a really good job of minimizing Kamara’s chances facing goal,” Rapids coach said. “A lot of his play was back to goal, which is where we want him.”
“Gordo’s” debut. Alan Gordon, who long tormented the Rapids as a late sub for other teams, made his Colorado debut Saturday, entering the match in the 84th minute.
“It was fun, it was good to be out there with the boys,” Gordon said. “Good win, that’s all you ask.”
Gordon, who signed as a free agent, was held out of preseason matches as he recovered from offseason shoulder surgery.
“Shoulder’s getting there. It’s got a little ways to go, but I get stronger every day.”
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Hamilton signs. The Rapids on Saturday announced the signing of 2017 first-round SuperDraft pick Sam Hamilton.
“The past two months have been an anxious two months,” Hamilton said. “To have it officially done is just a weight off my chest and I’m excited because I have a lot more work to put in, but I’m in the right place to do that with the right foundation and the right people.”
Hamilton, 21, was captain of the University of Denver Pioneers team that went to the NCAA College Cup last year.
