Shades Of MLS Cup 2010 In Rapids Win

On Friday I predicted:

2-1 win, goals by Navarro and Mihailović.  It worked in Toronto, we should be the better team, so why not see it working again tomorrow night?

IN the end my homage to MLS Cup proved to be more accurate than I expected.  The main difference is that Colorado never trailed, but they did get the win due to an own goal (or two).  Not that they didn't deserve it.  Colorado outplayed Dallas for the majority of the match and it was only a few nervy moments in stoppage time when it felt like Dallas might get a point.

• Another similarity to MLS Cup 2010, it was damn cold.  Its not a Rapids season though unless we have at least one freezing or lower game in the spring.
• Kevin Cabral. Kevin Cabral! If the man could hit the broadside of a barn he'd be in the golden boot race.  He had 3 chances in the first half that a quality striker scores 2.5 of them (the header was a bit difficult, especially on a cold night when the ball feels like a rock).  He's actually looking better this season, more engaged, but if you can't score that's a problem.
• The first own goal was an eerily close mirror image of the winning goal from MLS Cup.  A cross from the end-line deflects off a center-back's thigh and beats the keeper covering the other post.  Nice job by Bassett playing the Mac Kandji role.
• After half the second own goal was originally ruled an own goal, and then credited to Harris.  Technically that's probably correct, since Harris' shot was on target, but it really was an own goal.  Dallas' keeper saved the shot but the rebound went off a Dallas defender and into the goal.
• It wasn't clear in the stadium but Sam Vines was subbed out due to concussion symptoms.  Armas said they were light after the game so here's hoping he recovers quickly.
• If Sam isn't back quickly we don't have an immediate plug-and-play option.  On Saturday Seb Anderson came in at right back and Rosenberry switched to the left side.  One thought that was suggested was trying Cabral at left back.  It takes the pressure of scoring off of him while, in Armas' system, still allowing him to feed the attack.  I wouldn't try it first against FCC this weekend, but its an interesting idea.
• This game was screaming for a defensive midfield presence from about the 60th minute on, yet Löffelsend and Diack didn't come in until the 87th minute.  That tells me that, for whatever reason, Diack isn't fitting into Armas' plans.  We should release him as soon as we're able and use those resources somewhere else.
• Bombito is a beast.  Assuming he stays healthy and continues his improvement I don't see how he's still in Colorado by the start of the 2026 season.
• This team can't figure out how to score reliably, but they have figured out how to win reliably, somehow.  You have to like the fight in this squad.  I'm not sure how long w can keep the juggling act up without fixing the offense, but a big test is Saturday against FC Cincinnati.

Man of the Match: Cole Bassett.  Forced the first goal, was active all night, and set a new club record for homegrown appearances.  As many of us have said, he's better as an 8 than a 10.

F*C* Dallas

Our old MLS Cup 2010 friends are back in Commerce City tomorrow night.  The Rapids should plan on sending them home the same way they did in Toronto, with some nice parting gifts and a loss.  Dallas is off to one of the worst starts in their history, so like San Jose last week this is a team we should take advantage of at home, but our injury situation might put a crimp into that idea.  Kickoff tomorrow is at the normal 7:30, and its going to be a cold one, with temps in the mid 30's by the end of the game.  Not quite a Snow Clasico but we needed at least one truly cold game this spring.

Player Availability:

OUT: D Jackson Travis (leg), M Jonathan Lewis (knee), M Connor Ronan (knee)

QUESTIONABLE: M Cole Bassett (leg), M Kimani Stewart-Baynes (illness)

Seeing Cole on the injury report isn't great.  The good news is that he was part of Rapids' Earth Day visit to the zoo yesterday and the social media pictures showed him was a bandage on his shin but no other evidence of an injury, so that suggests he could be available tomorrow.  Löffelsend appears to also be available.

This assumes Bassett can't start.  If Cole can go he would take the spot from Diack.  Otherwise I think we see very little change.  Possibly Fernandez instead of Harris at right wing.

Prediction: 2-1 win, goals by Navarro and Mihailović.  It worked in Toronto, we should be the better team, so why not see it working again tomorrow night?

Navarro Scores When He Wants!

Its been a long time since the Rapids were clear favorites on the road, played like it, and got the expected result.  Saturday night that's exactly what they did.  While it wasn't perfect it was the most complete game the team has played this season (and probably last).  Colorado also got its first shutout of the season and moved solidly into the playoff part of the table (though its way too early to take much from that).  With a struggling Dallas team coming in next week the team has a chance continue this run.

The first goal early in the game came out of that some of that counter-pressing we've been told to expect this year.  Bassett, Cabral, and Mihailović forced San Jose into the corner where they made a mistake and Mihailović quickly  turned the mistake into an attacking chance for Navarro.  Unfortunately it was former-Rapid Yarbrough who paid the price, having to wipe out Rafael and giving up the PK, which Navarro converted for his 3rd PK of the season.

Colorado did go into a bit of a shell after that (one of those areas to work on), only getting one more shot off before the halftime break.  San Jose had some looks, including a strong one right after our goal, but the couple that were dangerous and got through Steffen was able to handle.  Coming out of half the Rapids picked up their play and were rewarded.  In the 60th minute a long throw was badly cleared by San Jose and crossed back in to the middle by Harris (I think?).  It pinballed a bit in the box before Navarro got a foot on it to get his first goal from the run of play.

After that the Rapids were focused on getting the clean sheet.  Steffen had to come up big a couple of times but there was never a threat that San Jose was going to come back for a draw (or win).  Bassett finished it off after a nice layoff from Navarro to give him a run at goal.

There are still areas that need improvement, namely the inability or lack of desire to pull the trigger more often we are at least efficient with our shots.  During the game MLS had us with 2 shots on target and 1 goal in the first half, and 1 shot on target and 2 goals in the second half.  Not sure how the latter is possible but 3 shots on goal, 3 goals, that's at least making what few chances we create count.

Man of the Match: Rafael Navarro.  2 goals, 1 assist?  Easy call.  Basset had a goal and an assist as well so he should get an honorable mention.

I'm Not Down

For the first time in a long time I'm not down going into a road game!  But before we dig into that we have a couple of personnel moves from this week to discuss.

First, Dillon Serna announced his retirement from professional soccer.  Arguably the first successful homegrown player from the Academy (along side Shane O'Neill) out of his 147 professional appearances 125 of them were with the Rapids organization in some form.  A one year stint with Sporting KC II and a year with the Switchbacks were his only other stops.  Hopefully he'll find a place in Commerce City post-retirement.

The Rapids also made a permanent and temporary move with the current team.  They extended Löffelsend's contract another year through 2025, with an option for 2026.  Then today they called up Marlon Vargas from RapiDos on a short-term contract for tomorrow's game.

Speaking of, the Rapids are off to San Jose to play the Earthquakes tomorrow night.  The former Clash are off to a rough start this season, last place in the league with the most goals allowed.  This might be a chance for Colorado to build on the confidence of 5 goals and 4 points in the last 2 games.  We are a little thin in midfield though.  Kickoff is at 8:30 tomorrow, and we're stuck with the Rogondino/Pearce team again.

Player Availability:

OUT: M Jonathan Lewis (knee), M Connor Ronan (knee), M Kimani Stewart-Baynes (illness)

QUESTIONABLE: M Jasper Löffelsend (hamstring)

Not having KSB reduces our firepower off the bench, so we're going to have to not save it until the end of the game this week.  Otherwise its as expected.

Other than right mid I think this is pretty locked in.  We could see Harris or Fernandez getting the start there, but I'm leaning towards Harris.

Prediction: 2-1 win, goals by Mihailović and Bassett.  Field a little out on a limb to predict a win but there won't be an easier time to get a road win this year.  San Jose is bad and beat up.  Be smart, don't let them get confident by getting an early goal, and get two before giving one back.

Colorado Homegrowns Stand Up To Barca Miami

Well that was an interesting game.  Hard to call it fun when we didn't get the win, but at the same time I don't think anyone would complain about a draw all things considered.  The Rapids rolled out a lineup featuring 4 Rapids Academy homegrowns (Anderson, Bassett, Larraz, Vines) and brought another (Yapi) in off the bench.  Meanwhile Miami tried to coast through this game by leaving Messi and his friends on the bench, but realized at half they're not good enough to pull that off and brought the gang in.  In the end all the GOAT and the other Barca All-Stars could do is manage a 2-2 draw against the Colorado Kids.  Its only 1 point on the table but its one of the few "moral victories" that not just trying to make a failure look good.

That's not to say there aren't still issues with the Rapids.  4 shots on goal all game, 2 of which didn't happen until after we were down 2-1.  In fact the only shot in the whole first half was the penalty kick.  Given how Colorado bossed the game at times in the first half that's nowhere near good enough.  Once again we saw urgency from the team after going down, but we need that urgency from the start of the game.

The first half was, as mentioned, tilted in the Rapids' favor.  They arguably had a PK not called for them in the first 10 minutes.  There were also hints of a red card in that same period but on replay Cabral took a dive.  The only thing missing was the ability to shoot.  Cabral did earn the PK and Navarro finished it, but that was the total offensive output of the first half.

It was really just the 15 minutes after halftime when the team was obviously feeling the pressure of Messi that they slipped up.  And even then it took adding Busquets before Miami broke through.  I'm going to say that somehow Messi was unmarked in those 5 minutes, but there are many, many better teams who have left Messi unmarked for 5 critical minutes and paid for it.  Bad defense from the Rapids but not that surprising.

After taking Miami's best punch the Burgundy Boys got up off the mat and pushed the game back onto them.  We saw a bit of that "play in transition" on the tying goal as a quick counterattack caught Miami out of position.  Calvin Harris did a nice job sliding a pass to Bassett and he beat Busquets and Miami's keeper for the goal.  He later got Busquets' shirt as a reward (Navarro got Messi's).  Even near the end the Rapids had a shot to win with another free kick from DM, from almost the same spot as last week, but this time it was saved.

Again though, if you told Rapids fans (and if they're honest, probably Chris Armas and Padraig Smith too) that we would start 4 homegrowns and face down Messi for 45 minutes, along with Busquets and Alba, in Miami, and come out with a draw any of us would have taken it.  We need to take this momentum into San Jose (currently last place in the league) next week and get 3 points out of them.

Man of the Match;  Cole Bassett.  Yeah, the game-tying goal makes you MOTM>  He also is the only Rapid to have 2 shots on goal in the match.  Up until that goal though I was leaning heavily to Bombito, who was caught out on one of the Miami goals but otherwise played a really good game.