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Rapids and Sporting KC Hold on for a Draw

Colorado Rapids head coach Robin Fraser and Sporting KC head coach Peter Vermes saw everything they wanted to see in the preseason match except a goal. 

Both coaches played the first-team in the opening 45 minutes and gave the academy players chances in the second half. It was the first time Colorado went onto the field in 2022, and the second time for Sporting KC after playing against the U.S. Men's National Team last week. 

"It's our second game, our expectation was just to get 45 minutes out of the players today," said Sporting KC head coach Peter Vermes. "I thought from a play perspective and a condition point of view, we're in a pretty good place."

Sporting KC had a few good chances in the first half but none could find the back of the net. 

Colorado Rapids head coach Robin Fraser and Sporting KC head coach Peter Vermes saw everything they wanted to see in the preseason match except a goal. 

Both coaches played the first-team in the opening 45 minutes and gave the academy players chances in the second half. It was the first time Colorado went onto the field in 2022, and the second time for Sporting KC after playing against the U.S. Men’s National Team last week. 

“It’s our second game, our expectation was just to get 45 minutes out of the players today,” said Sporting KC head coach Peter Vermes. “I thought from a play perspective and a condition point of view, we’re in a pretty good place.”

Sporting KC had a few good chances in the first half but none could find the back of the net. 

Colorado came out firing in the second half, grabbing a few close calls but all were sent just wide of the net. 

"I thought we defended well," said Colorado Rapids head coach Robin Fraser. "Late in the second half we pushed up and really started to get pressure on them and I thought we moved really well and cohesively."

The Desert Showcase presented by Visit Tucson continues Sunday with a doubleheader World Cup Qualifying watch party at The Neighborhood DWTN. United States will face off against Canada in the first match, followed by Mexico versus Costa Rica. The event returns to Kino North Stadium on Feb. 5 where Colorado Rapids will take on the Houston Dynamo at 4 p.m. (BUY TICKETS). 

Colorado came out firing in the second half, grabbing a few close calls but all were sent just wide of the net. 

“I thought we defended well,” said Colorado Rapids head coach Robin Fraser. “Late in the second half we pushed up and really started to get pressure on them and I thought we moved really well and cohesively.”

The Desert Showcase presented by Visit Tucson continues Sunday with a doubleheader World Cup Qualifying watch party at The Neighborhood DWTN. United States will face off against Canada in the first match, followed by Mexico versus Costa Rica. The event returns to Kino North Stadium on Feb. 5 where Colorado Rapids will take on the Houston Dynamo at 4 p.m. (BUY TICKETS). 

Timbers and Sounders Can't Break Deadlock

More than 2,000 people headed to Kino North Stadium on Wednesday to see the kickoff of the Desert Showcase presented by Visit Tucson. The crowd did not see any goals, but they witnessed an exciting opening match. 

Both coaches looked at the game as a rivalry and a chance to give young players a chance to get minutes. 

Saravese and Schmetzer were happy with the performances but wished that they were able to grab a goal. 

"We had some good opportunities to score," said Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer. "Unfortunately we didn't have that one little bit of quality or luck to get the ball in the back of the net." 

More than 2,000 people headed to Kino North Stadium on Wednesday to see the kickoff of the Desert Showcase presented by Visit Tucson. The crowd did not see any goals, but they witnessed an exciting opening match. 

Both coaches looked at the game as a rivalry and a chance to give young players a chance to get minutes. 

Saravese and Schmetzer were happy with the performances but wished that they were able to grab a goal. 

“We had some good opportunities to score,” said Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer. “Unfortunately we didn’t have that one little bit of quality or luck to get the ball in the back of the net.” 

Portland had a good scoring chance in the second half but the attempt was sent over the bar. 

"I wish we could have given them at least a goal," Timbers coach Giovanni Saravese said. "This crowd is here to watch Seattle against Portland, and it doesn't matter who plays, who doesn't, it's a rivalry."

Portland had a good scoring chance in the second half but the attempt was sent over the bar. 

“I wish we could have given them at least a goal,” Timbers coach Giovanni Saravese said. “This crowd is here to watch Seattle against Portland, and it doesn’t matter who plays, who doesn’t, it’s a rivalry.”

Portland and Seattle each used 22 different players in the match which featured academy players and trialists. Tucson native Donny Toia featured with the Timbers after leaving Real Salt Lake during the break. 

"Offseason I'm always here, it's good to be back with another new team," said Toia. "I have another opportunity and I'm just trying to take full advantage of it right now." 

The Desert Showcase presented by Visit Tucson continues on Thursday with a watch party for the U.S versus El Salvador World Cup qualifying match at Pueblo Vida. The event will return to Kino North Stadium on Saturday where Sporting Kansas City will take on the Colorado Rapids at 4 p.m. (BUY TICKETS). 

Portland and Seattle each used 22 different players in the match which featured academy players and trialists. Tucson native Donny Toia featured with the Timbers after leaving Real Salt Lake during the break. 

“Offseason I’m always here, it’s good to be back with another new team,” said Toia. “I have another opportunity and I’m just trying to take full advantage of it right now.” 

The Desert Showcase presented by Visit Tucson continues on Thursday with a watch party for the U.S versus El Salvador World Cup qualifying match at Pueblo Vida. The event will return to Kino North Stadium on Saturday where Sporting Kansas City will take on the Colorado Rapids at 4 p.m. (BUY TICKETS). 

Desert Showcase Has Begun!

For more than 12 years, Tucson has been the kickoff point for a plethora of Major League Soccer clubs. It's been a bit of a good luck charm, too. In the last 10 years, a team that has trained here has gone on to reach the MLS Cup.

The early tests against good competition and the amenities Tucson provide is what keeps the teams coming back.

"The facilities here are fantastic, the fields are great," said Colorado Rapids head coach Robin Fraser. "Everything in Tucson is fantastic.

"When you set out your preseason plans, the first thing is who's going to be there? Who can we get games with? Because as we make our way through preseason, we have benchmarks of what we're trying to achieve. You can't get a handle on how you're doing without playing some competition."

That level of competition was on display Tuesday night at Hotel Congress, as four MLS coaches gathered together for a press conference to kick off the Desert Showcase presented by Visit Tucson. 

Giovanni Savarese, Fraser, Pablo Mastroeni and Brian Schmetzer came together for a half-hour question-and-answer session that covered everything from how they work with the new generation of younger players to what they see as the next evolution of the league. 

The evening was presented by Rio Nuevo. 

With Schmetzer at the reins, the Sounders have won the 2016 and 2019 titles, and were MLS runner-up n 2017 and 2020. 

"My job as a coach, as a manger is to get the best out of people," said Schmetzer. "Whether you're in a corporate job or a soccer job or any sort of management job, you just want to make sure that the people that work with you maximize their talents."

Under Savarese, the TImbers have appeared in the MLS Cup finals in 2018 and 2021. Losing this year's final on penalty kicks to New York City FC. 

"For all of us, even if we did well last year, we all want to be competitive," said Savarese. "Preseason is a very important part of making sure that we put everything on the players for what they're going to give us during the year." 

The Sounders and Timbers will play the first match in the preseason tournament on Wednesday (Kino North Stadium, 7 p.m., BUY TICKETS).

For more than 12 years, Tucson has been the kickoff point for a plethora of Major League Soccer clubs. It’s been a bit of a good luck charm, too. In the last 10 years, a team that has trained here has gone on to reach the MLS Cup.

The early tests against good competition and the amenities Tucson provide is what keeps the teams coming back.

“The facilities here are fantastic, the fields are great,” said Colorado Rapids head coach Robin Fraser. “Everything in Tucson is fantastic.

“When you set out your preseason plans, the first thing is who’s going to be there? Who can we get games with? Because as we make our way through preseason, we have benchmarks of what we’re trying to achieve. You can’t get a handle on how you’re doing without playing some competition.”

That level of competition was on display Tuesday night at Hotel Congress, as four MLS coaches gathered together for a press conference to kick off the Desert Showcase presented by Visit Tucson. 

Giovanni Savarese, Fraser, Pablo Mastroeni and Brian Schmetzer came together for a half-hour question-and-answer session that covered everything from how they work with the new generation of younger players to what they see as the next evolution of the league. 

The evening was presented by Rio Nuevo. 

With Schmetzer at the reins, the Sounders have won the 2016 and 2019 titles, and were MLS runner-up n 2017 and 2020. 

“My job as a coach, as a manger is to get the best out of people,” said Schmetzer. “Whether you’re in a corporate job or a soccer job or any sort of management job, you just want to make sure that the people that work with you maximize their talents.”

Under Savarese, the TImbers have appeared in the MLS Cup finals in 2018 and 2021. Losing this year’s final on penalty kicks to New York City FC. 

“For all of us, even if we did well last year, we all want to be competitive,” said Savarese. “Preseason is a very important part of making sure that we put everything on the players for what they’re going to give us during the year.” 

The Sounders and Timbers will play the first match in the preseason tournament on Wednesday (Kino North Stadium, 7 p.m., BUY TICKETS).

Robin Fraser led the Colorado Rapids to the best record in the Western Conference in the 2021 season. He took the reins in the middle of 2019, nearly taking the team to the postseason. The Rapids improved to fifth in the conference in 2020 before grabbing the top spot in the 2021 regular-season. 

"This year it feels like our starting point is ahead of where it's been," said Fraser. "I feel like this is the first year that I felt like we kind of jumped in where we left off last year." 

The Rapids will take on Sporting KC at Kino North Stadium on Saturday,  Jan. 29 (BUY TICKETS) and the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, Feb. 4 (BUY TICKETS).

Mastroeni was named interim head coach of Real Salt Lake in the middle of the 2021 season. He led RSL to the Western Conference playoffs with a late-season push that included qualifying on the final day. The club went on to upset Seattle and Sporting KC before falling to Portland. 

After his successes, Mastroeni was named permanent head coach of RSL for 2022. 

"Having had a crazy run to end last season was really about coming back into preseason and trying to pick up where we left off," said Mastroeni. "We have a new ownership group that are driving a lot of momentum, and it's so important that we get back and find that energy and that drive from day one." 

The Desert Showcase will continue with USL teams coming to the region in February as well as a series of Watch Parties for he final six World Cup qualifying games for the U.S. Men's National Team. 

Robin Fraser led the Colorado Rapids to the best record in the Western Conference in the 2021 season. He took the reins in the middle of 2019, nearly taking the team to the postseason. The Rapids improved to fifth in the conference in 2020 before grabbing the top spot in the 2021 regular-season. 

“This year it feels like our starting point is ahead of where it’s been,” said Fraser. “I feel like this is the first year that I felt like we kind of jumped in where we left off last year.” 

The Rapids will take on Sporting KC at Kino North Stadium on Saturday,  Jan. 29 (BUY TICKETS) and the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, Feb. 4 (BUY TICKETS).

Mastroeni was named interim head coach of Real Salt Lake in the middle of the 2021 season. He led RSL to the Western Conference playoffs with a late-season push that included qualifying on the final day. The club went on to upset Seattle and Sporting KC before falling to Portland. 

After his successes, Mastroeni was named permanent head coach of RSL for 2022. 

“Having had a crazy run to end last season was really about coming back into preseason and trying to pick up where we left off,” said Mastroeni. “We have a new ownership group that are driving a lot of momentum, and it’s so important that we get back and find that energy and that drive from day one.” 

The Desert Showcase will continue with USL teams coming to the region in February as well as a series of Watch Parties for he final six World Cup qualifying games for the U.S. Men’s National Team. 

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