THUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay Chill will have representation in the 2010 MLS Playoff Cup Final, as Chill alumni Kosuke Kimura scored the only goal as his Colorado Rapids defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 in the Eastern Conference final on Saturday night.
The win means the Rapids will make their first MLS Cup appearance since 1997 when they take the winner of Sunday’s Western Conference final between FC Dallas and the LA Galaxy. The Cup Final will take place on Canadian soil at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario, on November 21st, 2010 at 8:30 p.m. (EST).
After seeing several first have chances skip wide for the Rapids, Kimura stepped up to take a corner in the 43rd minute. Kimura sent a curling in-swinging corner into the box, meant for the head of one of his teammates. However, the ball never made contact with another player and skipped past a lunging Earthquakes goalkeeper and into the net.
Kimura’s goal was his first of the postseason, and only his third goal over his four-year career in the MLS since leaving the Chill.