After being traded to the Colorado Rapids earlier this season from the Columbus Crew, Gyasi Zardes is rounding into form and making the impact he was expected to with his new club.
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Zardes has two goals and an assist in the last three games, and his latest goal insured the Rapids’ 2-0 win over the LA Galaxy on Saturday. His assist came in a 2-2 draw with Real Salt Lake, and his other goal helped the Rapids walk away with a draw against Orlando City SC.
THIS ONE COUNTS!!!#COLvLA | @gyasinho pic.twitter.com/KeAxxWWikY
— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) July 17, 2022
Zardes was acquired by Colorado in late April in a trade with Columbus, where he spent the last four-and-a-half seasons and won the 2020 MLS Cup. He scored 54 goals in his time with the Crew, which followed five seasons with the LA Galaxy (34 total goals).
Being such a prolific scorer, it was only a matter of time before Zardes started to get on the scoresheet again for the Rapids. He scored his first goal with the club in May but then endured a slump. He credits his teammates for continuing to encourage him.
“I’m thankful for this team, this coaching staff that’s always got my back when things are not falling my way and I owe all the credit to them, not me. I’m just going to keep working hard and they motivate me to step out in that field and give my all each and every single day,” Zardes said in an MLS interview.
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Zardes’ recent form has helped Colorado break a six-game winless streak, and puts it in 12th place, three points below the Western Conference’s MLS Cup Playoffs line. It also extended the Rapids’ unbeaten run against the Galaxy to eight games.
After finishing the 2021 regular season atop the Western Conference standings, the Rapids acquired Zardes — who has also made 67 career appearances for the U.S. national team (with 14 goals) — with the hopes of making a third consecutive postseason appearance.
As he helps Colorado attempt that feat, Zardes continues to share about his faith in Christ. During his pro career he has used his social media platform to redirect praise to God, something he talked about on the Sports Spectrum Podcast in October 2018.
“God has blessed me with all these opportunities, so there’s no better way to use my platform to allow everyone to know and see who I’m giving the glory to,” Zardes said on the podcast. “It’s not me, it’s God.”
Later, he added, “I just try to redirect all that attention, fame to God because my viewpoint is, I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for God. I firmly believe that.”
After being informed about his trade to Colorado, Zardes took to Instagram to thank the Columbus soccer community. He closed the post with a “#allglorytoGod” hashtag, as he does with most of his social posts.
“Crew Family! Thank you for the amazing journey and memories. Thank you for welcoming my family with open arms. Columbus will always have a special place in my heart! Inspiring the next generation was one of the Goals and I hope I fulfilled that #allglorytoGod,” Zardes said on Instagram.
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Colorado’s next match is Saturday as they face off against the Seattle Sounders, who sit in ninth place in the Western Conference.
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