Fans entering Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Wednesday night, were a bit concerned as to what they were about to see. Not only were the Rapids facing celebrated Thierry Henry and his top ranked team, but they were now playing without their leading scorer, Conor Casey.
People wondered, who would take Casey’s place?
That question was answered in the second minute of the match. Sanna Nyassi had a flawless one-two combo with Omar Cummings. As Nyassi left defenders confused, he scored his first goal of the season.
The next goal came in the 26th minute when Wells Thompson confidently scored off a rebounded shot from Nyassi, making the score 2-0.
Just minutes later, the speed of Nyassi was highlighted once again. Like an attacking shark in calm waters, he made his way through the Red Bull defense, netting his second goal of the match.
“I think it was great,” Brian Mullan said. “Sanna was incredible tonight. The rest of the team played with a lot of confidence, played patiently, and it’s something I looked forward to.”
As halftime came and went, the Rapids defense was on high alert.
“It is important to get it out on top and stay on top, and not relax,” Wells Thompson said. “The goals we have given up are right after we have scored, or the beginning of the halves. So it was awesome tonight that we corrected that mistake and didn’t let up any of those goals.”
Just to make sure there was no chance of a New York comeback, Sanna Nyassi took his third assist from Omar Cummings and placed the ball into the back of the net, earning his first hat trick.
New York Red Bulls were able to leave with a goal. Thierry Henry, who had been silenced by Kosuke Kimura throughout the entire match, scored an impressive goal in the 67th minute. This made the final score 4-1.
As Sanna Nyassi subbed out in the 85th minute, fans stood to their feet, thanking the Gambian for an extraordinary performance.
“I think it has put a smile on people’s faces,” Coach Gary Smith stated, “It was a wonderful display and typified by Sanna’s sensational display. On a night where we haven’t beaten any of the top three teams in the conference and to beat New York in an emphatic fashion, it was incredible.”
Watch: match highlights
The Colorado Rapids host New England Revolution, Saturday, July 23, 7:00 p.m. at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
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