Rafael Navarro scored in the 16th minute Sunday and the visiting Colorado Rapids never trailed en route to a 2-0 win over New York City FC.
Colorado improved to 5-3-3, good for 18 points, despite enduring its usual problems maintaining possession. NYCFC boasted a possession rate of 63.3 percent, outshot the Rapids 15-11 and generated more corners (4-3). But it fell to 4-5-2, staying at 14 points.
Colorado established a clear territorial advantage in the first 20 minutes, an edge that paid off via a pretty offensive sequence. Cole Bassett crossed from right to left and found Navarro. He settled the ball and curled an authoritative right-footed shot to the left corner, past the dive of goalie Matt Freese.
NYCFC mostly controlled the ball thereafter but couldn't manage the clinical finish required to equalize. It had a good chance right before halftime, but Kevin O'Toole's header nestled into the chest of goalie Zack Steffen.
Colorado appeared to grab a 2-0 advantage in the 26th minute, but Kevin Cabral erased the marker by going offside.
NYCFC made five substitutions in the second half, hoping to inject life into its attack. But its corner kick in the 76th minute failed to produce results as Malachi Jones couldn't get his header on frame.
Bassett sealed the outcome in the 86th minute as he took service from Calvin Harris and made no mistake. It was Bassett's fourth goal of the year. and his third in five games.
Steffen finished with three saves in the clean sheet.
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