With both teams coming off high-scoring wins, the Colorado Rapids visit first-place New York City FC on Saturday.
NYCFC (2-0-1, 7 points) is atop the Eastern Conference table, has out-scored its opponents 8-2 and buried Orlando City 5-0 at home Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Rapids (2-1-0, 6 points) have climbed to fifth place in the Western Conference table and cruised to a 4-1 home win over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday.
For the first time since 2018, NYCFC has seven points in its first three matches. The win against the Lions was also the first time New York City FC scored five goals with coach Pascal Jansen at the helm.
Keaton Parks scored a brace while Agustin Ojeda, Nicolas Fernandez and Maxi Moralez added goals.
Because he’s healthy, Pascal said Parks was more of an offensive threat and was “squeezed up a little higher in the pitch the last two matches”
In July 2025, Parks underwent surgery on his right leg to address blood flow issues. He had similar procedures in 2021 and 2022.
“That was priority number one for Keaton to become healthy again,” Jansen said. “We all know he is a great player and a big personality for our team.”
After Alexis Manyonma netted the match winner in the 76th minute off a Darren Yapi assist, the flood gates opened for Colorado and Miguel Navarro netted a brace in the closing 14 minutes. Yapi opened the scoring with a goal.
Connor Ronan came on as a second-half substitute, played 10 minutes and was forced out of the match with a reported leg injury. Reggie Cannon also left the match with an injury in the 65th minute. Colorado coach Matt Wells said both are expected to undergo an MRI this week.
Colorado goalkeeper Zack Steffen missed the win over Los Angeles with a shoulder injury. Nico Hansen filled in between the pipes with four saves.
“It was a new thing coming into the preseason and a big shift from last year,” said Hansen about adjusting to a new strategy under first-year coach Wells. “But we work on it everyday. It’s second nature now. Everyone knows what position they should be in.”
–Field Level Media
