Chivas USA 1, Colorado Rapids 1 | MLS Match Recap

CARSON, Calif. — Martín Rivero scored a late equalizer on a fantastic header, as the Colorado Rapids came back to earn a 1-1 draw against Chivas USA on Sunday night in a controversial match at StubHub Center that included three ejections.

Rivero, who came on as a substitute shortly after halftime, scored in the 80th minute with the Rapids holding a man advantage. Tristan Bowen put the Goats in a vulnerable position in the 63rd minute when he was given a straight red for spitting toward Colorado defender Chris Klute.

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The Rapids nearly got the go-ahead goal in the 87th minute, but Vicente Sánchez’s header hit the crossbar and stayed out. Colorado, who with the draw earned points for the fifth consecutive match, also had a goal waved off in the 78th minute for offsides.

Chivas USA claimed an early lead on Carlos Alvarez’s second goal of the season. The rookie found the back of the net in the sixth minute with a perfectly placed left-footed shot to the top left corner on a feed from Erick “Cubo” Torres.

Rapids goalkeeper Clint Irwin then made two crucial saves to keep the deficit at one and Deshorn Brown had an opportunity to tie it in the 27th minute when Steven Purdy was whistled for a hand ball inside the box, but Dan Kennedy made a diving stop on Brown’s penalty shot.

Brown also missed a golden opportunity in the 58th minute when the ball had gotten behind Kennedy, but his shot went wide of the goal.

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The Rojiblancos went down a man in the 33rd minute when Gabriel Farfan received a straight red card for stepping on Shane O’Neill’s shin, but the Rapids were unable to capitalize. Tony Cascio received his second yellow card in the 49th minute to even the scales, but then Bowen gave the edge right back.

With the draw, Colorado move to 9-7-9 and remain even on points in the Western Conference with second-place Vancouver. They will next host the Whitecaps on August 17.

Last-place Chivas USA, meanwhile, go to 4-13-6 and bring a three-match winless streak into their next match, at home against FC Dallas on August 21.

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