In this week’s recap of Minnesotans playing professionally: Cropper and Bunbury faced off against Miller in their season debuts while Mallace and Yueill didn’t see the field when their teams met.
The Colorado Rapids hosted the New England Revolution in their respective season opener. Eric Miller started at right back for Colorado and went the full 90 in a familiar 1-0 win. The Woodbury native had a solid game defensively, finishing with five clearances, three recoveries, two tackles, and an interception, but also showed an improvement in his runs forward into the attack by providing dangerous service into the box.
On the other side of the result, Cody Cropper earned the second start of his MLS career in goal for the Revolution. Cropper was only tested twice during the game. The first came in the 20th minute when Kevin Doyle collected a chipped pass in the box with just the keeper to beat. The former MK Dons man came out to meet Doyle and smothered the shot.
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The Rapids’ second shot on target came in the 52nd minute after Doyle got his head to a free kick only to see the ball come back off the far post. There was a scramble at the top of the box and Cropper made a lunge for the loose ball, but missed, leaving Dominique Badji an open net to rise up and head home the game winner.
Teal Bunbury entered the game for New England in the 83rd minute and had an opportunity to steal a point for his team in the dying minutes of the game. As he made a run towards the Rapids’ box, Bunbury had Kei Kamara open in the center of the field. The Revs midfielder either didn’t have the pass to Kamara or just chose to go to goal himself and was eventually shepherded over the end line by the keeper.
Calum Mallace was an unused substitute in the Montreal Impact’s 1-0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes.
First round draft pick Jackson Yueill was not listed in the gameday roster for the Quakes.
In Spain, Mukwelle Akale did not feature in Villarreal CF C’s 1-1 tie with CF Borriol.
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