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Deadspin | Gage Goncalves nets OT winner, Lightning push Canadiens to Game 7  Apr 26, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning center Gage Goncalves (93) plays the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images   Gage Goncalves scored the overtime game-winning goal to give the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Friday and force Game 7 of their Stanley Cup playoff series.  The deciding game of their Eastern Conference first-round set will be Sunday in Tampa. That clash has quite the affair to top in entertainment value.  A thrilling Game 6 finally came to a close when Goncalves buried a loose puck amidst a scramble at 9:02 of overtime for his first career playoff overtime winner.  It came shortly after the Lightning killed a Montreal power play.  Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy had struggled to find his form during this series, but he delivered his best performance with 30 saves to post his eighth career playoff shutout.  Montreal goalie Jakub Dobes stopped 32 shots in a fantastic goaltending duel.  All six games have been decided by one goal. Both teams have won twice in overtime.  The series winner will face the Buffalo Sabres in the second round of the playoffs.   The lack of goals was not indicative of the action. Both clubs generated a litany of scoring chances in a back-and-forth clash.  Tampa came within a whisker of scoring first early in the second period when Corey Perry slipped a shot through Dobes’ legs, but Phillip Danault pulled the puck off the goal line behind his netminder.  Late in the second period, Vasilevskiy robbed Ivan Demidov with a pair of sprawling saves that had the Montreal forward looking skyward during a Canadiens power play. Danault was also stopped on a partial breakaway in the dying seconds of the frame.  Alexandre Texier, who scored the winning goal in Game 5, rang a shot off the post early in the third period moments before Jake Guentzel was stopped on a breakaway at the other end.  During Tampa’s ensuing power play, both Nikita Kucherov and Guentzel struck iron.  Dobes also stood tall during another Lightning third-period power play, capping it with a clutch stop on Brayden Point.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Gage #Goncalves #nets #winner #Lightning #push #Canadiens #Game

Deadspin | Gage Goncalves nets OT winner, Lightning push Canadiens to Game 7
Deadspin | Gage Goncalves nets OT winner, Lightning push Canadiens to Game 7  Apr 26, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning center Gage Goncalves (93) plays the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images   Gage Goncalves scored the overtime game-winning goal to give the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Friday and force Game 7 of their Stanley Cup playoff series.  The deciding game of their Eastern Conference first-round set will be Sunday in Tampa. That clash has quite the affair to top in entertainment value.  A thrilling Game 6 finally came to a close when Goncalves buried a loose puck amidst a scramble at 9:02 of overtime for his first career playoff overtime winner.  It came shortly after the Lightning killed a Montreal power play.  Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy had struggled to find his form during this series, but he delivered his best performance with 30 saves to post his eighth career playoff shutout.  Montreal goalie Jakub Dobes stopped 32 shots in a fantastic goaltending duel.  All six games have been decided by one goal. Both teams have won twice in overtime.  The series winner will face the Buffalo Sabres in the second round of the playoffs.   The lack of goals was not indicative of the action. Both clubs generated a litany of scoring chances in a back-and-forth clash.  Tampa came within a whisker of scoring first early in the second period when Corey Perry slipped a shot through Dobes’ legs, but Phillip Danault pulled the puck off the goal line behind his netminder.  Late in the second period, Vasilevskiy robbed Ivan Demidov with a pair of sprawling saves that had the Montreal forward looking skyward during a Canadiens power play. Danault was also stopped on a partial breakaway in the dying seconds of the frame.  Alexandre Texier, who scored the winning goal in Game 5, rang a shot off the post early in the third period moments before Jake Guentzel was stopped on a breakaway at the other end.  During Tampa’s ensuing power play, both Nikita Kucherov and Guentzel struck iron.  Dobes also stood tall during another Lightning third-period power play, capping it with a clutch stop on Brayden Point.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Gage #Goncalves #nets #winner #Lightning #push #Canadiens #GameApr 26, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning center Gage Goncalves (93) plays the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Gage Goncalves scored the overtime game-winning goal to give the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Friday and force Game 7 of their Stanley Cup playoff series.

The deciding game of their Eastern Conference first-round set will be Sunday in Tampa. That clash has quite the affair to top in entertainment value.

A thrilling Game 6 finally came to a close when Goncalves buried a loose puck amidst a scramble at 9:02 of overtime for his first career playoff overtime winner.

It came shortly after the Lightning killed a Montreal power play.

Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy had struggled to find his form during this series, but he delivered his best performance with 30 saves to post his eighth career playoff shutout.

Montreal goalie Jakub Dobes stopped 32 shots in a fantastic goaltending duel.

All six games have been decided by one goal. Both teams have won twice in overtime.


The series winner will face the Buffalo Sabres in the second round of the playoffs.

The lack of goals was not indicative of the action. Both clubs generated a litany of scoring chances in a back-and-forth clash.

Tampa came within a whisker of scoring first early in the second period when Corey Perry slipped a shot through Dobes’ legs, but Phillip Danault pulled the puck off the goal line behind his netminder.

Late in the second period, Vasilevskiy robbed Ivan Demidov with a pair of sprawling saves that had the Montreal forward looking skyward during a Canadiens power play. Danault was also stopped on a partial breakaway in the dying seconds of the frame.

Alexandre Texier, who scored the winning goal in Game 5, rang a shot off the post early in the third period moments before Jake Guentzel was stopped on a breakaway at the other end.

During Tampa’s ensuing power play, both Nikita Kucherov and Guentzel struck iron.

Dobes also stood tall during another Lightning third-period power play, capping it with a clutch stop on Brayden Point.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Gage #Goncalves #nets #winner #Lightning #push #Canadiens #Game

Apr 26, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning center Gage Goncalves (93) plays the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Gage Goncalves scored the overtime game-winning goal to give the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Friday and force Game 7 of their Stanley Cup playoff series.

The deciding game of their Eastern Conference first-round set will be Sunday in Tampa. That clash has quite the affair to top in entertainment value.

A thrilling Game 6 finally came to a close when Goncalves buried a loose puck amidst a scramble at 9:02 of overtime for his first career playoff overtime winner.

It came shortly after the Lightning killed a Montreal power play.

Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy had struggled to find his form during this series, but he delivered his best performance with 30 saves to post his eighth career playoff shutout.

Montreal goalie Jakub Dobes stopped 32 shots in a fantastic goaltending duel.

All six games have been decided by one goal. Both teams have won twice in overtime.

The series winner will face the Buffalo Sabres in the second round of the playoffs.

The lack of goals was not indicative of the action. Both clubs generated a litany of scoring chances in a back-and-forth clash.

Tampa came within a whisker of scoring first early in the second period when Corey Perry slipped a shot through Dobes’ legs, but Phillip Danault pulled the puck off the goal line behind his netminder.

Late in the second period, Vasilevskiy robbed Ivan Demidov with a pair of sprawling saves that had the Montreal forward looking skyward during a Canadiens power play. Danault was also stopped on a partial breakaway in the dying seconds of the frame.

Alexandre Texier, who scored the winning goal in Game 5, rang a shot off the post early in the third period moments before Jake Guentzel was stopped on a breakaway at the other end.

During Tampa’s ensuing power play, both Nikita Kucherov and Guentzel struck iron.

Dobes also stood tall during another Lightning third-period power play, capping it with a clutch stop on Brayden Point.

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Gage #Goncalves #nets #winner #Lightning #push #Canadiens #Game

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Serie A relegations: Pisa, Hellas Verona go down to second division <div id="content-body-70930785" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Lecce beat Pisa 2-1 and sent the Tuscan club into the Italian second division on Friday.</p><p>Pisa was promoted from Serie B a year ago but goes down after a woeful season in Serie A in which it won only two of its 35 games so far.</p><p>The result also meant relegation for second-from-bottom Verona. It has 19 points, one more than Pisa, but it cannot catch Lecce, which is fourth-to-last in the table with 32.</p><p>Lameck Banda put Pisa 1-0 up in the 52nd minute but Mehdi Léris equalised for the home side four minutes later.</p><p>However, Walid Cheddira scored a 65th-minute winner for visiting Lecce to lift it four points above the relegation zone with three matches left to play.</p><p>Serie B’s Venezia also got the point it needed to secure promotion thanks to a 2-2 draw with Spezia.</p><p>Giovanni Stroppa’s team tops the Serie B table, one point ahead of Frosinone, which can join Venezia in the top tier with a win or draw against Mantova in its final match next Friday.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on May 02, 2026</p></div> #Serie #relegations #Pisa #Hellas #Verona #division

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इंदौर-मुंबई सेंट्रल के बीच एसी सुपरफास्ट समर स्पेशल ट्रेन शुरू होगी चार मई से

Iranian football officials are set to meet soon with FIFA in Zurich about their World Cup games in the United States in June.

Iran’s top football official Mehdi Taj said on Friday “we have many issues to discuss” on his return home from Canada where he failed to attend FIFA’s annual congress held on Thursday in Vancouver.

FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström has invited an Iranian delegation to its headquarters by a May 20 deadline, a person familiar with the proposal told The Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing sensitivity of the issue.

That target date in Zurich is three weeks before the Iran squad is due in the U.S., staying at a training base in Tucson, Arizona, to prepare for three group games in Inglewood, California and Seattle.

“Our position is that we will soon have a meeting with FIFA,” Taj told Iranian media on Friday.

Iran is an Asian football power but its ability and willingness to come to the World Cup has been questioned since the U.S. and Israel launched military attacks on February 28. The tournament is being co-hosted by Canada and Mexico,

On Thursday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino opened his keynote speech to global football leaders — with only Iran missing of the 211 member federations — insisting again that Iran will come and play as scheduled in the U.S.

At the White House later Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed his support for Iran’s team, adding: “If Gianni said it, I’m OK.”

Trump and Infantino have closely allied over the World Cup preparations which has challenges, beyond Iran with fans from several African countries, over granting entry visas and security concerns.

Taj and two more Iran officials had issues this week on landing in Toronto en route to Vancouver where they were expected at the FIFA annual meeting.

ALSO READ | Canadian official backs up report that Iranian FA chief was denied entry for FIFA event

Taj, who is also a vice president of Asia’s football body, detailed on Friday the problems with Canadian authorities though he said he was not deported.

“In Canada they asked us, ‘Are you members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps?’ We told them, ‘In Iran, 90 million of us are IRGC,’” Taj was reported as saying in Iranian media.

After being detained for two hours at Toronto airport, the Iran football delegation which had arrived from Istanbul was told it could continue the journey.

“There was some discussion and he said, ‘It’s up to you,’ and then we decided as a group to go back” to Istanbul, Taj said. “They did not officially deport us, there is nothing labeled as deportation in our file, but in practice it was like that.”

Taj had a valid visa to enter Canada after he was denied one by the U.S. to attend the World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5. At that event, Infantino presented Trump with the first FIFA Peace Prize.

Iran has World Cup group games against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt, respectively, from June 15-26. The first two games are at the NFL stadium of the Los Angeles Rams and the third is at the Seattle Seahawks’ stadium.

If Iran advances as runner-up in its group, the team could face the United States in the round of 32 at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium on July 3.

The Iranian football league shut down after the war started and is not due to resume before the World Cup. The squad played two warmup games in March at a training camp in Antalya, Turkey, where it could return this month to prepare for the World Cup that opens on June 11.

Published on May 02, 2026

#FIFA #World #Cup #Iran #football #officials #meet #FIFA #Zurich #plan #games">FIFA World Cup 2026 — Iran football officials to meet FIFA in Zurich and plan for games in US  Iranian football officials are set to meet soon with FIFA in Zurich about their World Cup games in the United States in June.Iran’s top football official Mehdi Taj said on Friday “we have many issues to discuss” on his return home from Canada where he failed to attend FIFA’s annual congress held on Thursday in Vancouver.FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström has invited an Iranian delegation to its headquarters by a May 20 deadline, a person familiar with the proposal told The Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing sensitivity of the issue.That target date in Zurich is three weeks before the Iran squad is due in the U.S., staying at a training base in Tucson, Arizona, to prepare for three group games in Inglewood, California and Seattle.“Our position is that we will soon have a meeting with FIFA,” Taj told Iranian media on Friday.Iran is an Asian football power but its ability and willingness to come to the World Cup has been questioned since the U.S. and Israel launched military attacks on February 28. The tournament is being co-hosted by Canada and Mexico,On Thursday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino opened his keynote speech to global football leaders — with only Iran missing of the 211 member federations — insisting again that Iran will come and play as scheduled in the U.S.At the White House later Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed his support for Iran’s team, adding: “If Gianni said it, I’m OK.”Trump and Infantino have closely allied over the World Cup preparations which has challenges, beyond Iran with fans from several African countries, over granting entry visas and security concerns.Taj and two more Iran officials had issues this week on landing in Toronto en route to Vancouver where they were expected at the FIFA annual meeting.ALSO READ | Canadian official backs up report that Iranian FA chief was denied entry for FIFA eventTaj, who is also a vice president of Asia’s football body, detailed on Friday the problems with Canadian authorities though he said he was not deported.“In Canada they asked us, ‘Are you members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps?’ We told them, ‘In Iran, 90 million of us are IRGC,’” Taj was reported as saying in Iranian media.After being detained for two hours at Toronto airport, the Iran football delegation which had arrived from Istanbul was told it could continue the journey.“There was some discussion and he said, ‘It’s up to you,’ and then we decided as a group to go back” to Istanbul, Taj said. “They did not officially deport us, there is nothing labeled as deportation in our file, but in practice it was like that.”Taj had a valid visa to enter Canada after he was denied one by the U.S. to attend the World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5. At that event, Infantino presented Trump with the first FIFA Peace Prize.Iran has World Cup group games against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt, respectively, from June 15-26. The first two games are at the NFL stadium of the Los Angeles Rams and the third is at the Seattle Seahawks’ stadium.If Iran advances as runner-up in its group, the team could face the United States in the round of 32 at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium on July 3.The Iranian football league shut down after the war started and is not due to resume before the World Cup. The squad played two warmup games in March at a training camp in Antalya, Turkey, where it could return this month to prepare for the World Cup that opens on June 11.Published on May 02, 2026  #FIFA #World #Cup #Iran #football #officials #meet #FIFA #Zurich #plan #games

Canadian official backs up report that Iranian FA chief was denied entry for FIFA event

Taj, who is also a vice president of Asia’s football body, detailed on Friday the problems with Canadian authorities though he said he was not deported.

“In Canada they asked us, ‘Are you members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps?’ We told them, ‘In Iran, 90 million of us are IRGC,’” Taj was reported as saying in Iranian media.

After being detained for two hours at Toronto airport, the Iran football delegation which had arrived from Istanbul was told it could continue the journey.

“There was some discussion and he said, ‘It’s up to you,’ and then we decided as a group to go back” to Istanbul, Taj said. “They did not officially deport us, there is nothing labeled as deportation in our file, but in practice it was like that.”

Taj had a valid visa to enter Canada after he was denied one by the U.S. to attend the World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5. At that event, Infantino presented Trump with the first FIFA Peace Prize.

Iran has World Cup group games against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt, respectively, from June 15-26. The first two games are at the NFL stadium of the Los Angeles Rams and the third is at the Seattle Seahawks’ stadium.

If Iran advances as runner-up in its group, the team could face the United States in the round of 32 at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium on July 3.

The Iranian football league shut down after the war started and is not due to resume before the World Cup. The squad played two warmup games in March at a training camp in Antalya, Turkey, where it could return this month to prepare for the World Cup that opens on June 11.

Published on May 02, 2026

#FIFA #World #Cup #Iran #football #officials #meet #FIFA #Zurich #plan #games">FIFA World Cup 2026 — Iran football officials to meet FIFA in Zurich and plan for games in US

Iranian football officials are set to meet soon with FIFA in Zurich about their World Cup games in the United States in June.

Iran’s top football official Mehdi Taj said on Friday “we have many issues to discuss” on his return home from Canada where he failed to attend FIFA’s annual congress held on Thursday in Vancouver.

FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström has invited an Iranian delegation to its headquarters by a May 20 deadline, a person familiar with the proposal told The Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing sensitivity of the issue.

That target date in Zurich is three weeks before the Iran squad is due in the U.S., staying at a training base in Tucson, Arizona, to prepare for three group games in Inglewood, California and Seattle.

“Our position is that we will soon have a meeting with FIFA,” Taj told Iranian media on Friday.

Iran is an Asian football power but its ability and willingness to come to the World Cup has been questioned since the U.S. and Israel launched military attacks on February 28. The tournament is being co-hosted by Canada and Mexico,

On Thursday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino opened his keynote speech to global football leaders — with only Iran missing of the 211 member federations — insisting again that Iran will come and play as scheduled in the U.S.

At the White House later Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed his support for Iran’s team, adding: “If Gianni said it, I’m OK.”

Trump and Infantino have closely allied over the World Cup preparations which has challenges, beyond Iran with fans from several African countries, over granting entry visas and security concerns.

Taj and two more Iran officials had issues this week on landing in Toronto en route to Vancouver where they were expected at the FIFA annual meeting.

ALSO READ | Canadian official backs up report that Iranian FA chief was denied entry for FIFA event

Taj, who is also a vice president of Asia’s football body, detailed on Friday the problems with Canadian authorities though he said he was not deported.

“In Canada they asked us, ‘Are you members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps?’ We told them, ‘In Iran, 90 million of us are IRGC,’” Taj was reported as saying in Iranian media.

After being detained for two hours at Toronto airport, the Iran football delegation which had arrived from Istanbul was told it could continue the journey.

“There was some discussion and he said, ‘It’s up to you,’ and then we decided as a group to go back” to Istanbul, Taj said. “They did not officially deport us, there is nothing labeled as deportation in our file, but in practice it was like that.”

Taj had a valid visa to enter Canada after he was denied one by the U.S. to attend the World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5. At that event, Infantino presented Trump with the first FIFA Peace Prize.

Iran has World Cup group games against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt, respectively, from June 15-26. The first two games are at the NFL stadium of the Los Angeles Rams and the third is at the Seattle Seahawks’ stadium.

If Iran advances as runner-up in its group, the team could face the United States in the round of 32 at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium on July 3.

The Iranian football league shut down after the war started and is not due to resume before the World Cup. The squad played two warmup games in March at a training camp in Antalya, Turkey, where it could return this month to prepare for the World Cup that opens on June 11.

Published on May 02, 2026

#FIFA #World #Cup #Iran #football #officials #meet #FIFA #Zurich #plan #games
Deadspin | Dynamo strive for more clinical finishing vs. Rapids  Mar 14, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Dynamo forward Guilherme Augusto (20) controls the ball during the second half against the Portland Timbers at Shell Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images   Houston Dynamo coach Ben Olsen wants a sharper offensive performance when his club hosts the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.  The Dynamo (4-5-0, 12 points) have struggled to capitalize on possessions around the box, a trend that Olsen said must improve.  “We are a little toothless in our attack,” Olsen said. “We have to be a little more patient and balanced and figure out the final third.”  Houston lost 2-0 to Austin last Saturday, even though it held 53.9% of the possession. Prior to the loss at Austin, the Dynamo had won two straight matches by 1-0 scores but have been outscored 18-12 this season.  Guilherme Augusto leads the Dynamo with five goals and four assists.  “For 100 minutes a week, you’ve got to summon something, summon the best in yourself,” Olsen said. “And that’s the responsibility these players have and I have.”  Colorado (4-5-1, 13 points) will look to bounce back after a 3-1 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps last Saturday. Rafael Navarro tallied the lone goal, and the Brazilian forward leads the Rapids with seven goals and four assists. He also has 19 shots on target.   Navarro’s goal last week marked his 50th regular-season goal contribution in his fourth year with the club. He’s the eighth Colorado player to reach the milestone.  Rapids defender Keegan Rosenberry said the Rapids have to get off to better starts.  “From the first whistle, we have to show up as ourselves,” Rosenberry said. “We have to have that bravery and meet the demands of the game better.”  In the first matchup between the two teams, the Rapids rolled to a 6-2 home win over the Dynamo on April 11. Kosi Thompson and Navarro each scored a brace in that match. But since then, the Rapids have gone 0-2-1 in league play.  “We have to do the necessary dirty stuff to win games,” Colorado coach Matt Wells said. “Our football warrants that.”  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Dynamo #strive #clinical #finishing #RapidsMar 14, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Dynamo forward Guilherme Augusto (20) controls the ball during the second half against the Portland Timbers at Shell Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Houston Dynamo coach Ben Olsen wants a sharper offensive performance when his club hosts the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.

The Dynamo (4-5-0, 12 points) have struggled to capitalize on possessions around the box, a trend that Olsen said must improve.

“We are a little toothless in our attack,” Olsen said. “We have to be a little more patient and balanced and figure out the final third.”

Houston lost 2-0 to Austin last Saturday, even though it held 53.9% of the possession. Prior to the loss at Austin, the Dynamo had won two straight matches by 1-0 scores but have been outscored 18-12 this season.

Guilherme Augusto leads the Dynamo with five goals and four assists.

“For 100 minutes a week, you’ve got to summon something, summon the best in yourself,” Olsen said. “And that’s the responsibility these players have and I have.”


Colorado (4-5-1, 13 points) will look to bounce back after a 3-1 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps last Saturday. Rafael Navarro tallied the lone goal, and the Brazilian forward leads the Rapids with seven goals and four assists. He also has 19 shots on target.

Navarro’s goal last week marked his 50th regular-season goal contribution in his fourth year with the club. He’s the eighth Colorado player to reach the milestone.

Rapids defender Keegan Rosenberry said the Rapids have to get off to better starts.

“From the first whistle, we have to show up as ourselves,” Rosenberry said. “We have to have that bravery and meet the demands of the game better.”

In the first matchup between the two teams, the Rapids rolled to a 6-2 home win over the Dynamo on April 11. Kosi Thompson and Navarro each scored a brace in that match. But since then, the Rapids have gone 0-2-1 in league play.

“We have to do the necessary dirty stuff to win games,” Colorado coach Matt Wells said. “Our football warrants that.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Dynamo #strive #clinical #finishing #Rapids">Deadspin | Dynamo strive for more clinical finishing vs. Rapids  Mar 14, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Dynamo forward Guilherme Augusto (20) controls the ball during the second half against the Portland Timbers at Shell Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images   Houston Dynamo coach Ben Olsen wants a sharper offensive performance when his club hosts the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.  The Dynamo (4-5-0, 12 points) have struggled to capitalize on possessions around the box, a trend that Olsen said must improve.  “We are a little toothless in our attack,” Olsen said. “We have to be a little more patient and balanced and figure out the final third.”  Houston lost 2-0 to Austin last Saturday, even though it held 53.9% of the possession. Prior to the loss at Austin, the Dynamo had won two straight matches by 1-0 scores but have been outscored 18-12 this season.  Guilherme Augusto leads the Dynamo with five goals and four assists.  “For 100 minutes a week, you’ve got to summon something, summon the best in yourself,” Olsen said. “And that’s the responsibility these players have and I have.”  Colorado (4-5-1, 13 points) will look to bounce back after a 3-1 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps last Saturday. Rafael Navarro tallied the lone goal, and the Brazilian forward leads the Rapids with seven goals and four assists. He also has 19 shots on target.   Navarro’s goal last week marked his 50th regular-season goal contribution in his fourth year with the club. He’s the eighth Colorado player to reach the milestone.  Rapids defender Keegan Rosenberry said the Rapids have to get off to better starts.  “From the first whistle, we have to show up as ourselves,” Rosenberry said. “We have to have that bravery and meet the demands of the game better.”  In the first matchup between the two teams, the Rapids rolled to a 6-2 home win over the Dynamo on April 11. Kosi Thompson and Navarro each scored a brace in that match. But since then, the Rapids have gone 0-2-1 in league play.  “We have to do the necessary dirty stuff to win games,” Colorado coach Matt Wells said. “Our football warrants that.”  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Dynamo #strive #clinical #finishing #Rapids

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