Djordje Mihailovic scored his first two goals for his new MLS club in the final 10 minutes as the Colorado Rapids cruised to a strong 3-2 win over visiting LAFC on Saturday afternoon.
Mihailovic’s first came from a loose shot in the 83rd minute with LAFC still in full swing. His moment, a point-blank improvisation in the 89th minute, came after LAFC substitute David Martinez was sent off for his second yellow card.
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Moise Bombito also scored his first career MLS goal in the first half for the Rapids (2-2-2, 8 points), who twice rallied from a one-goal deficit to secure their first home win in the first division. Coach of the Year: Chris Armas.
Martinez had already given LAFC the lead (2-3-1, 7 points) with a brilliant individual goal in the 76th minute. But the 18-year-old’s missed shot after a foul resulted in a second yellow card for dissent, paving the way. way for Black and Gold to remain a single point earned away from home this season.
Eduard Atuesta scored his second goal of the season long before the game. Kei Kamara, third on MLS’s all-time scoring list, made his LAFC debut as a delayed replacement after signing a deal earlier this week.
But it was Mihailovic, who was Kamara’s former teammate at CF Montreal and signed a designated player contract with Colorado before the season, who made the difference in the closing stages.
In the equalizer, Omir Fernandez won the free kick when he brought down perhaps a foot from the penalty area, to the left of the penalty goal.
Mihailovic fired a right-footed shot over the defensive wall that looked like an idiot to LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who had been pinned to the ground as he navigated to the most sensitive right corner.
Then, Martinez’s ejection set the stage for Colorado to bid for a winner.
Striker Rafael Navarro created the decisive chance when he discovered Kimani Stewart-Baynes on the right of the box with a cross from the left.
Stewart-Baynes headed the ball into goal, where Mihailovic used his knee to redirect the pass that bounced past Lloris from about 8 yards.