Robin Fraser hails Gyasi Zardes after goal vs LA Galaxy

The Colorado Rapids snapped their six-game winless streak on Saturday when defeating LA Galaxy 2-0 at DSG Park. 

Goals from Diego Rubio and Gyasi Zardes propelled the rapids to three points and 11th place on the Western Conference standings with a record of 6W-8L-6D. Head coach Robin Fraser hailed his team for the hard-earned victory, particularly pointing out Zardes for his tremendous efforts over the past couple games. 

The striker now has two goals and one assists in his last three appearances for the Rapids, an accolade Fraser claims 'was only a matter of time'.

“Gyasi scores 20 goals, he scores three goals, his work attitude and training is going to be the exact same and his approach is going to be the same. I've heard this term used in referencing players, people might say [the] guy is a robot and people think of that as a negative thing. I would say Gyasi's a robot and that he is unflappable. Whatever happens, you get 100% commitment, 100% effort,” Fraser said. 

“The coaches were talking about this recently. He's doing so many things well, that it had to be a matter of time before he scored.”

Zardes joined the Rapids in late April after the team secured a trade with the Columbus Crew. The deal saw the striker join the Western Conference side, in exchange for $300,000 in General Allocation Money and up to an additional $1.1m in GAM if Zardes reaches multiple performance metrics and re-signs with Colorado for three years.

Prior to his arrival in Colorado, Zardes managed 53 goals across four seasons with the Crew. With expectations high, the striker felt the frustrations of a scoreless run. 

“This group and this locker room, they're – I mean, they really helped me a lot. They're constantly saying, 'Hey G, they'll come. We see the hard work you're doing.' You know, it's not like they don't see it. When they tell me that, that motivates me to work even harder,” confessed Zardes. 

“So 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."

The team returns to action on Saturday when visiting the Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field.