Colorado Rapids keep FC Cincinnati winless on home pitch

Diego Rubio scored early and Jonathan Lewis late, as the Colorado Rapids continued their surge on Saturday night, winning 2-0 win over FC Cincinnati, which remained winless on its new home pitch.

Colorado won four of five heading into the recent international break, and it picked up where it left off on Saturday. Even with a packed house at Cincinnati's TQL Stadium, the Rapids got a 21st-minute goal from Rubio, Lewis' strike in the 72nd and seven saves from goalkeeper William Yarbrough -- while recording their fourth clean sheet of 2021.

Meanwhile, the long-awaited chance for FCC to play among a full-capacity stadium turned frustrating for the home side. Cincinnati challenged throughout the evening, posting 22 total shots and six corners. However, it saw nothing in return while dropping to 0-3-0 at its new venue.

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With a spirited crowd in full collective throat, Cincinnati held a majority of the early possession, but Colorado began to press FCC keeper Kenneth Vermeer around the 10-minute mark. Michael Barrios eventually got behind the Cincinnati back line, managed to stay onside and kept control of the ball in time to set up Rubio, who converted for his third goal of 2021.

FCC's best chance of the first half came in the 34th minute, when Isaac Atanga was stopped point-blank by Yarbrough.

Cincinnati kept at in the second half but went high or wide of the net on a handful of occasions. Yarbrough, who stayed in the match following an early second-half collision with FCC's Allan Cruz, punched away a laser free-kick chance from Alvaro Barreal in the 69th minute.

Yet, it was Colorado that again found the back of the net. On perhaps the Rapids' best chance of the second half, Jack Price connected with Lewis, who slid the ball into the bottom-right for some welcomed insurance.

Barreal also hit the crossbar at 89 minutes.