The Colorado Rapids dominated the San Jose Earthquakes in a 3-0 victory on Saturday night, with Rafael Navarro leading the charge with two goals and an assist.
Navarro opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a penalty kick after being fouled by San Jose goalkeeper William Yarbrough. The Brazilian forward has been in fine form, scoring three of his four goals this season in the past two games.
Cole Bassett added to the lead in the 60th minute, capitalizing on a blocked header to poke the ball into the back of the net. He then sealed the victory in the 80th minute with a well-placed shot from the top of the area.
Goalkeeper Zack Steffen, in his first season with the Rapids, earned his first shutout with the team, making five crucial saves to deny the Earthquakes any chance of a comeback.
San Jose, on the other hand, continues to struggle with their form, suffering their third consecutive loss after a brief respite with a win over Seattle. Despite dominating possession and outshooting Colorado, the Earthquakes were unable to find the back of the net.
With the Rapids showing their attacking prowess and solid defense, they will be looking to build on this impressive performance as they aim for success in the MLS season.