Rapids advance in Leagues Cup with last-minute goal vs. Toluca

The Colorado Rapids smashed and grabbed their way to a Leagues Cup quarterfinals berth.

Darren Yapi scored in the final minute of regulation to send Colorado to a 2-1 win over Liga MX side Deportivo Toluca late Tuesday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

But this was a game the Rapids very easily could have lost.

The Diablos rattled off 21 shots (six on goal) to the Rapids’ four (two on goal). Toluca dominated the possession to the tune of 64% to 36%.

And if the Rapids scoring on their only shots on goal wasn’t improbable enough, Yapi had to tap in the winner in the 90+6th minute.

In the 45th minute, the Rapids got on the board when midfielder Cole Bassett sent a diagonal longball from midfield to the left side of the six-yard box to Sam Vines. Vines, who otherwise did not have a great first half, laid a perfect pass across goal on his first touch to set up Rafael Navarro for a tap-in.

Then in the 83rd minute, Brazilian forward Paulinho finally tied the match up with a backheel while spinning to get the ball past Zack Steffen, who otherwise had another great Leagues Cup match with five saves.