Colorado Rapids 1-0 CF Montréal
Paxten Aaronson held his nerve from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute as Colorado Rapids earned a hard-fought 1-0 Major League Soccer victory over CF Montréal on Saturday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
The Rapids had the greater share of the ball and the clearer attacking foothold throughout the match, finishing with 58.5 percent possession, 18 shots and seven efforts on target. Montréal remained in the contest, however, and produced five shots on target from 11 attempts as they searched for a late equaliser.
The defining moment arrived just before half-time. Colorado were awarded a penalty and Aaronson stepped forward to convert in the 43rd minute, giving the home side a 1-0 interval lead. It was the only goal of a tense fixture in which Colorado pressed for a second but could not find the finishing touch to put the result beyond doubt.
Montréal showed greater urgency after the break, but the Rapids protected their advantage and limited the visitors to a single corner kick. Colorado, by contrast, won five corners and consistently kept pressure on the Montréal back line through their 15 shot assists.
The closing stages were combative, with Montréal’s Dante Sealy booked in the 81st minute before Colorado substitutes Kosi Thompson and Wayne Frederick received yellow cards in the 85th and 90th minutes respectively. The Rapids saw out four minutes of added time to secure the clean-sheet victory.
The result moves Colorado’s record to 11-2-12, while CF Montréal fall to 5-6-14. The Rapids next host Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, September 19, while Montréal return home to face Columbus Crew the same day.
