Saint Lucia international footballer Donavan “Gusto” Phillip scored his fourth goal in five games for club and country at the weekend, becoming the youngest player ever to net in three straight games for the Colorado Rapids. But the Rapids were held to a 1-1 draw by the San Jose Earthquake in Commerce City.
Aged 21 years and 279 days, Phillip broke the deadlock in the 27th minute for the home team. After two good chances from the run of play, the powerfully built young man from Marchand leaped highest and timed the ball best from a Paxten Aaronson corner, nodding in emphatically at the back post.
In the 57th, a San Jose free kick eventually fell to an open Dave Romney, who made no mistake, volleying through traffic to beat custodian Nico Hansen. A deflection off Rob Holding, made 1-1 with 33 minutes to play. Phillip was replaced soon thereafter, but the game ended in a stalemate.
Notwithstanding the disappointment of dropping points, coach Matt Wells was heartened by Phillip’s performance. The Saint Lucian striker was named HCA HealthONE Children’s Hospital Man of the Match for the first time in his young career, and Wells was fulsome in his praise.
“He can really become a top established player for this club. There’s another level for him to achieve. He still underestimates how good he can be. I think massively of him as a player and a person as well,” Wells said of Phillip.
The article Gusto man of the match in Rapids MLS draw is from St. Lucia Times.