Harris scores twice as Rapids cruise past Montreal 4-1

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) — Calvin Harris scored twice, his first multi-goal game in Major League Soccer, to help the Colorado Rapids beat Montreal CF 4-1 on Saturday night.

Colorado (8-7-4) has won three straight games and allowed just one goal in that span.

Harris drew a foul from Montreal’s Raheem Edwards just outside the box and then had his header from Djordje Mihailovic’s free kick parried by goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois but headed in to make it 1-0 in the minute 28.

On the counterattack, Mihailovic — who spent two seasons with Montreal — played a perfectly placed ball to Harris, who curled a curler from the center of the area into the net to give the Rapids a 2-0 lead moments before halftime.

Lalas Abubakar redirected a cross into the net for an own goal in the 53rd minute that cut Montreal’s deficit to 2-1.

Mihailovic, who had a hat trick in a 3-0 win over St. Louis City on Wednesday converted from the penalty spot in the 90th minute and Rafael Navarro scored in the second minute of stoppage time.

“The players were not tired. We lacked the collective personality to play our game both in defense and attack. We didn’t do what we wanted to do,” Montreal coach Laurent Courtois said.

“The little we tried was too timid and of poor quality. I can’t explain the first half. The lack of discipline in the free-kicks was also difficult. I hope the players will be more responsible for their individual actions in future.”

Montreal Miner Jonathan Sirois said his team wasn’t aggressive enough and gave the Rapids too much respect.

“It’s hard to explain tonight. We can all be disappointed. Too often they (Rapids) were able to get into our defensive third. We reacted well after the break, but it’s a shame. … Collectively, we all have to take our responsibilities and know our roles, especially when it comes to free kicks.”

Mihailovic (nine goals and eight assists) became the fourth player in franchise history to contribute at least 15 goals in the club’s first 20 games of a season and the first since Omar Cummings in 2009.

Mahala Opoku and Mason Toye both earned their 50th MLS starts for Montreal (4-8-7), which had its five-game unbeaten streak snapped. Sirois made his 50th MLS start for CF Montréal.

CF Montréal will return to Stade Saputo on Saturday to host Philadelphia Union.

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The Associated Press