ºüÀêÊÓƵ City SC coach Bradley Carnell talks to the press after the team's 0-3 loss to the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. Video by Beth O'Malley
The ºüÀêÊÓƵ City SC offense remained in a deep freeze despite the steamy weather Wednesday night at CityPark.
Djordje Mihailovic scored three times and City SC came up with goose egg again in a 3-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids before a sold-out crowd.
City SC (3-6-9) was held without a goal for the third straight match. It has gone 292 minutes without scoring. The last tally came in a 3-3 tie June 1 at Inter Miami.
The hosts were not without their chances. They had 17 shots and put five on frame.
But Colorado keeper Zack Steffen made several quality saves to record his second successive clean sheet.
City SC remains winless over its past seven matches, a franchise low. City SC’s last victory was a 3-1 triumph over the Chicago Fire on May 11.
City SC had a plethora of solid chances but simply could not convert, a trend that has bothered it throughout the scoreless drought.
The best opportunity came in the 25th minute when Eduard Lowen hit the crossbar on a penalty kick blast with his team trailing by a goal. Lowen made his lone PK earlier in the season. City SC is 2 for 4 on penalty kicks this season. Lowen was also halted on a nifty save by Steffen midway through the second half.
Colorado took a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute on Mihailovic’s first tally off a throw-in. Sebastian Anderson began the play with a long toss along the sideline that bounced in the box. Mihailovic got his head on the one-hopper and popped it past keeper Roman Burki.
The Rapids doubled their lead in the 60th minute. Mihailovic intercepted a mishandled clearing attempt by Burki and quickly deposited the ball into the open net.
Mihailovic added a penalty kick goal in stoppage time to complete the natural hat trick.
Burki had kept City SC in the match with a diving hand save off a shot by Omir Fernandez in the 59th minute to keep the deficit at one goal.
SC defender Tim Parker sat out the match due to yellow card accumulation. Joakim Nilsson missed the contest with a hamstring injury, making City SC thin along the back line. Defender Jake Nerwinski made his first start of the season.
Moving out
City SC defender Nikolas Dyhr was been sold to the Randers FC of the Danish Superliga.
The 22-year-old was signed in January. He made two starts with six appearances
His debut came on March 1 in a 2-0 win over New York City FC.
“We want to thank Nikolas for all of his hard work and time while in ºüÀêÊÓƵ,†City SC sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel said in a statement.
Slap on the wrist
Burki, Parker, Tomas Totland, Nilsson and Lowen have all been fined an undisclosed amount for violation of the mass confrontation policy during Saturday’s 2-0 loss in Dallas.
The incident occurred in the 27th minute after Nilsson was whistled for a foul in the box that led to a successful penalty kick by Jesus Ferreira
The five players are accused of inciting or escalating a mass confrontation, according to an announcement from the MLS office.
It is the first violation of the season for City SC.
Coach Bradley Carnell has been issued a warning as well.
Canadian Stars
City SC defender Kyle Hiebert was not the only player to miss Wednesday’s match while training with Canada for the upcoming Copa America event.
Colorado back liner Moise Bombito is also on Canada’s 26-player roster that will open the tournament on Thursday night against Argentina in Atlanta.
Hiebert, a native of Winnipeg, saw action for Canada in a friendly against France leading up to the tournament. He will miss at least four City SC matches while on national team duty.
There are 13 players from the MLS on the Canada roster.
Photos: ºüÀêÊÓƵ City SC loses 3-0 to the Colorado Rapids at CityPark
ºüÀêÊÓƵ City SC coach Bradley Carnell talks to the press after the team's 0-3 loss to the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. Video…
City SC defender Tomas Totland reacts as his shot on goal is pulled in by Colorado Rapids goalie Zack Steffen on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in the first half a game against at CityPark.
City SC goalie Roman Burki dives but can't stop a shot on goal on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in the second half of a game against the Colorado Rapids at CityPark.