Mayaka features as Colorado Rapids 2 collect two points in season opener
Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 29.03.22. | 10:36
The midfielder earned his maiden call up to the national team Harambee Stars in September last year
Philip Mayaka featured for 81 minutes as Colorado Rapids 2 took home their first two points of the MLS NEXT Pro season on Sunday evening in their first match of the newly formed league, playing to a one-all draw with Sporting KC II but emerged victorious from the spot.
Yes, you read that right. TWO points in football. Teams playing in MLS NEXT Pro, the reserve league of the MLS, can score two points in a league match. Matches in the newly formed league head to penalty shootouts if teams play to a draw in regular time, with the team that wins in the shootout bagging two points as the loser in the shootout bags one point. Awkward, right? We thought so too!
I’m blessed to announce that I have been drafted by @ColoradoRapids A big thanks to everyone who made this possible @ClemsonMSoccer @Wasserman time to get to work. pic.twitter.com/3zMoFKyGPh
— mayaka (@philipmayaka) January 21, 2021
Having played to a 1-1 draw in regular time, the two teams went into penalty shootouts with the visitors missing their first two kicks as Colorado scored all of theirs to earn the extra point.
Yosuke Hanya opened the scoring in regular time for the hosts at the stroke of the hour mark before Ghanian Tijani Fatah restored parity with 11 minutes left to play.
We've got some changes:
— Colorado Rapids 2 (@Rapids_2) March 27, 2022
➡️ Miller, Legendre
⬅️ Mayaka, Toure
81' | 1-1 | #COLvSKC
The Kenyan was then rested two minutes after the goal for 17-year old Conor Miller for the final nine minutes.
Sebastian Anderson, Dillon Serna, Anthony Markanich, and Darren Yapi scored their spot kicks for Colorado Rapids 2, with Collin Fernandez and Esai Easley scoring for Sporting KC II as Joshua Coan and Spencer Glass saw theirs saved by goalkeeper Abraham Rodriguez.
