The Colorado Rapids announced a trade to acquire Chidozie Awaziem and Ian Murphy from FC Cincinnati on Monday, adding two defenders to strengthen their back end.

Cincinnati will receive $1 million in general allocation money with another $200,000 in conditional payments possible. The club also owns a sell-on fee if either player is moved abroad or traded within the league.

“We are excited to welcome Chidozie and Ian to the Rapids,” Rapids president Padraig Smith said. “Chidozie is a leader and a powerful defender with vast experience in Europe and on the international stage, while Ian has established himself as an athletic and accomplished defender in MLS.

“Both players are strong fits for our game model, and they bring added quality to our group as we look to build off a successful 2024 season and continue strengthening our team.”

The 27-year-old Awaziem recorded two assists over seven games (all starts) for Cincinnati after being acquired from Boavista (Portugal) midseason.

Murphy, 24, appeared in 80 games over three seasons in Cincinnati, with 56 starts. He had one goal and one assist over that time period.

Cincinnati finished third in the Eastern Conference in 2024 with 59 points (18-11-5 W-L-T record) while Colorado was seventh in the West with 50 points (15-14-5).

-Reuters

The Houston Dynamo defeated Inter Miami 2-1 to win the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday with an injured Lionel Messi watching from the stands at DRV PNK Stadium.

Without Messi and his former Barcelona team-mate Jordi Alba, Miami struggled to compete with an enterprising Houston and went in 2-0 down at the break.

Houston grabbed the lead in the 24th minute with a perfect counter-attack ending with Brazilian Artur feeding the overlapping Griffin Dorsey who blasted in at the near post.

French forward Amine Bassi doubled the lead from the penalty spot nine minutes later after DeAndre Yedlin had brought down Nelson Quinones.

Houston thought that they had scored a third after the break but Quinones’ effort was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.

Substitute Josef Martinez gave Miami some late hope with a left-foot strike in stoppage time after latching on to a ball from Argentine Facundo Farias.

But despite some late pressure, it was too little, too late from Miami and Houston deservedly won their second U.S. Open Cup to add to their triumph in 2018.

Miami had won the Leagues Cup last month with Messi prominently involved but they must now battle to make the Major League Soccer play-offs with uncertainty over their Argentine star’s fitness.

-AFP