Paxten Aaronson's brace leads Colorado to rout of Sporting KC

Rafael Navarro added a goal and an assist in the 4-1 victory

Mar. 22, 2026 at 8:55am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Paxten Aaronson scored two goals and Rafael Navarro contributed a goal and an assist as the Colorado Rapids defeated Sporting Kansas City 4-1 in Kansas City, Kansas on Saturday. Wayne Frederick and Darren Yapi also recorded points for the Rapids, who improved to 3-2-0 on the season. Shapi Suleymanov scored the lone goal for Sporting KC, who fell to 1-3-1.

Why it matters

The win helps the Rapids bounce back after a slow start to the season, while Sporting KC continues to struggle to find consistency early on. The match featured a chippy affair with both teams receiving multiple yellow cards.

The details

In the 12th minute, Aaronson chipped a Yapi pass over Sporting KC goalkeeper John Pulskamp to give the Rapids a 1-0 lead. Suleymanov equalized for Sporting KC in the 44th minute, but just before halftime, Frederick tapped in a rebound after Pulskamp fell off balance into the net. In the second half, Navarro extended the Rapids' lead to 3-1 with a sliding goal in the 71st minute, and Aaronson added his second goal in the 75th minute to make it 4-1.

  • In the 12th minute, Aaronson scored the opening goal.
  • In the 44th minute, Suleymanov equalized for Sporting KC.
  • Just before halftime, Frederick scored the go-ahead goal for the Rapids.
  • In the 71st minute, Navarro extended the Rapids' lead to 3-1.
  • In the 75th minute, Aaronson scored his second goal to make it 4-1.

The players

Paxten Aaronson

A midfielder for the Colorado Rapids who scored two goals in the match.

Rafael Navarro

A midfielder for the Colorado Rapids who scored a goal and recorded an assist.

Wayne Frederick

A player for the Colorado Rapids who scored the go-ahead goal just before halftime.

Shapi Suleymanov

A player for Sporting Kansas City who scored the lone goal for his team.

John Pulskamp

The goalkeeper for Sporting Kansas City who was unable to prevent the Rapids from scoring four goals.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

This match showcased the Rapids' offensive firepower as they were able to overcome an early equalizer from Sporting KC and pull away for a convincing victory. The result will be a confidence boost for Colorado as they look to climb up the standings in the Western Conference.