Editing Rapids Eke Out Win Over 10-man Whitecaps

Rafael Navarro scored from the penalty spot just before halftime as the Colorado Rapids defeated the 10-man Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 on Wednesday night in Commerce City, Colo.<br><br>Zack Steffen made two saves to keep his third clean sheet for Colorado (6-4-3, 21 points) and a first at home.<br><br>The win was soured when Colorado team assist leader Djordje Mihailovic departed midway through the second half with an apparent foot injury.<br><br>Vancouver's Bjorn Inge Utvik was sent off on the play that led to Navarro's goal, a handball offense that denied Mihailovic's goal-bound shot. Utvik's exit doomed the Whitecaps to a third consecutive scoreless performance.<br><br>Vancouver (5-4-3, 18 points) did well to remain close in the second half and limited the Rapids to only four total shots on goal, including the penalty kick.<br><br>However, Colorado was ultimately the more dangerous team with a 17-8 lead in shots, most of those coming during the second half.<br><br>Utvik originally appeared to have made a sliding goal line denial of Mihailovic's effort. However, after a replay review, referee Alexis Da Silva ruled that the ball had struck Utvik's arm in an unnatural position that made his body larger.<br><br>Da Silva pointed to the spot and had no choice but to send Utvik off. While players who deny obvious goal scoring opportunities can avoid a red card on a penalty kick foul if they are trying to play the ball, there is no such allowance for denial via a handball.<br><br>Navarro converted, kicking off an extended stretch of numerical and possession advantage for the Rapids.<br><br>Colorado,  [https://blueskypixels.co.uk/ https://blueskypixels.co.uk/] though, only rarely came truly close to adding a second goal. The best chance came in the 87th minute, when Vancouver defender Ryan Raposo headed Jonathan Lewis' chip off the line after Lewis beat goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka (two saves).<br><br>Before that, Mihailovic appeared to hurt himself on a foray forward for the hosts in the 68th minute, grabbing at his Achilles area before he was removed in the 72nd minute.<br><br>Brian White had a rare chance for Vancouver in the 75th minute, but he sent his effort well high of Steffen's goal.<br><br>--Field Level Media