Kamara Seals a Hat-Trick in Rapids’ Rampage Win Over Montreal Impact, 6-3

The contest between the Colorado Rapids and Montreal Impact saw nine goals, and a superb win of the hosts. Around 14 thousand fans at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park had the opportunity to see one of the wildest games of the entire MLS season so far.

Two own goals, two in the stoppage time and Kei Kamara’s hat-trick were enough for a match which will be remembered for a long time. Rapids came in this event with just one point won in the latest four games. But they sure used a chance to erase all those failures with last night’s victory.

“It’s a statement, but we have to continue to back it up,” Colorado’s head coach Connor Casey said after the match. “We know where we’re at in the table, so we’ve got to keep working hard.”

Kei Kamara was the ultimate star of the game. The striker from Sierra Leone scored a hat-trick for his team, but also managed to beat his own goalie. It was the 18th minute when Kamara, unfortunately, placed the ball into Rapids’ net following his header. He tried to clear a cross but made things more complicated actually.

But only three minutes later, another own goal took place in Commerce City. The ball deflected off Monreal’s goalkeeper Evan Bush, following multiple deflections before that. From that moment on, the hosts took over the command on the field and scored three more times before the end of the first 45 minutes.

Kamara converted a penalty after 35 minutes of play. Before that, Diego Rubio forced one of the Impact’s defenders to bring him down in the box. The same player netted for 3-1 in the first minute of stoppage time, while Rubio beat Bush in 45+3, for 4-1.

It was obvious that the Canadian side has nothing to hope for from this one. They had more of the ball possession, and allowed just three shots on goal but were behind a lot.

A fantastic goal by Maxi Urruti 10 minutes into the second half decreased Montreal’s gap. The 27-year-old Argentinian hit the corner of Clint Irwin’s goal. Saphir Taider scored from a penalty to bring Impact down to only one goal behind, but Rapids fought off that push, scoring twice in the last 12 minutes. Andre Shinyashiki got the first one, and Kei Kamara scored in the 90th minute.

“He was incredible,” Casey said of Kamara. “Great attitude all week. He’s been doing a lot of the dirty work for us and hasn’t always got the reward, but tonight he did.”

The 34-year old reached the 10-goal mark in this season and became the only player in the MLS who did that with five different clubs.

“Two hat tricks in your career, which is shocking, to say you have over 100 goals and two hat tricks, but I spread my goals, not just in one game and in one season,” the player stated.

A night he won't forget.@keikamara with the hat-trick! 🎩 #COLvMTL pic.twitter.com/SjBSvomt00

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 4, 2019

His personal best is 22 goals, set in 2015 when he played for Columbus Crew. It is hard to believe that he might reach it, but nothing is impossible for this striker.

Rapids (6-12-5) are sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference standings with 23 points. They are 10 steps behind Dallas who is holding the last spot which leads to the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Montreal (10-12-3) is No.6 in the East and is desperately fighting to stay in the zone which leads to the postseason. The situation for the Canadians is tough, but there is are plenty of games ahead of them in which they can improve the overall position.

Montreal heads for Chicago in the next round, while Colorado awaits San Jose Earthquakes.