First Home Semi-Final In 10 Years

Not since the Western Conference Final (the MLS Cup semifinal) against Seattle in 2016 have the Rapids hosted a shot at a spot in a final.  While they reached the semis of the Leagues Cup (and eventually claimed the CCC spot in a shootout) that was in LA.  Tomorrow they get another shot at a final in front of their own fans.  The thing standing in their way?  St. Louis City, a team that's already beat them twice this year.  The good news is that Rafa Navarro is cup-tied after playing for us so he can't hurt his old team.  The biggest home game since Thanksgiving 2021 kicks off at 7:30 tomorrow night.

We don't have an availability list for the Open Cup but everyone seemed to come out of this weekend's game healthy so the only real question mark is Maziz's injury.  Given our struggles we need every weapon we can get so hopefully he's able to go.  Both Farkhi and Whittaker are eligible too, but Sadiq is still waiting on his visa.  As far as discipline goes it appears that the competition does not track accumulated yellow cards so Hansen would not be at risk of a suspension in the final should we win if he gets a yellow tomorrow, but I can't confirm that.

Its all hands on deck tomorrow because, to be blunt, this is our only chance at hardware.  We're not going to win MLS Cup this season.  So Farkhi and Whittaker have to start, even if they only have 60 minutes in their legs.  If Maziz can go, you risk him.  If he can't then you're probably looking at Frederick instead.  Everyone else is the clear best option.  I know a lot of these gays played 90 on Saturday but they have to go deep for another intense 90 (or possibly 120) for this one.

Prediction: 1-0 win, goal by Aaronson.  This will be a tense match all the way through and St. Louis will probably have the majority of the play.  My heart is driving me on this prediction more than my head, which would lean towards it being decided in PK's or a loss.  StL is the hottest team in MLS right now and even without Rafa I wonder if we can stop them.  If we were in St. Louis I'd give us a small chance but at home with what we've shown at the Dick since the World Cup break?  That's just enough to put us over the top (I hope!).

Colorado Makes It Six In A Row

With a 1-0 win on Saturday night the Rapids tied their team record with 6 straight home wins, set in 2016.  All 6 have been by shutout which is a new team record.  The league record for consecutive home shutouts is 8 by KC in 2000 (they actually went 87 minutes into their 9th game before Clint Mathis broke the streak).  If you're wondering the Rapids record for a home undefeated streak is 23, stretching from the second game of the 2021 season through May of 2022.

Really the biggest question watching the game, especially after the first couple of minutes, was if we were going to score.  Montreal never really threatened after a shot in the 2nd minute which was 30% of their xG on the night.  No other shot got above 0.07 xG.  Unfortunately the Rapids finishing issues continued Yapi had shots above 0.2 xG in both halves that weren't finished and Fredrick had one in the second half as well.  It took a PK from Aaronson to get one in the back of the net.

Whittaker and Farkhi both game in around the 55th minute for their first ever appearance in burgundy (black).  Whittaker was able to show more in this one, being active on the right side and getting a couple of good looks at goal.  He almost had his first goal in Colorado but his long shot went just wide of the far post.  Farkhi held up the ball well but wasn't as involved in the offense otherwise.  As Matt Wells said after the game their only goal on Saturday was to get some game time in their legs.  Hopefully its enough for them to start on Wednesday.

This was about as low-intensity a game as you can hope for with a league match right before a Cup semifinal.  That said, both Navarro and Williams were pretty toasted by the final whistle and they aren't really replaceable as starters (Travis and Cobb are not the same level).  The good news is that with the home winning streak the Rapids are solidly in a playoff position, so they can afford to sacrifice the game on Saturday against Seattle and just have everyone go all-out on Wednesday.  Also with this win the Rapids have equalized their win total from 2025 with 11.

Man of the Match: Paxten Aaronson.  He's stepped up with Rafa's departure and managed to get it done on offense when nobody else is.  The Rapids have now been outscored 4-2 by their former striker since the trade.

Reinforcements Are Trickling In Just In Time

The Rapids got good news today in their prep for tomorrow night's match against Montreal, Morgan Whittaker has his visa.  No news on Farkhi, who they were hoping for today, and Sadiq is still expected to be a bit longer, but this is the first (and biggest) step as Colorado can now put the biggest signing in their history on the field.  Burgundy Wave thinks he'll start but that might be a stretch given he's had at most one session with the team.  I do expect him to come off the bench though.  Meanwhile the opposition is a truly awful formerly-known-as-Impact side that would bein a race for the Wooden Spoon if SKC weren't having a historically bad year.  Kickoff tomorrow at the Dick is 7:30.

Player Availability:

OUT: GK Zach Steffen (shoulder), M Ali Fadal (head), M Ted Ku-DiPietro (shoulder), M Youssef Maziz (leg), F Mamadou Billo Diop (knee)

SUSPENDED: D Reggie Cannon

As feared when he came off the field in Austin, Maziz's injury was serious enough that he'll miss at least this game.  Hopefully that's all it is.  Also Kosi Thompson is one yellow card from suspension.

I'm assuming we're going to see some rotation and resting players for the semi-final on Wednesday.  Given the thin roster though this seems to be the best we'll be able to do, and Wells may not even go that far.  If Whittaker does start it would be in place of Phillip I assume.

Prediction: 2-0 win, goals by Aaronson and Thompson.  Montreal has a pretty similar offense to ours, which is to say below average, but a truly horrible defense, second-worst in the league.  The Rapids keep the home shutout streak going into the semifinal and this one actually feels like a comfortable win.

Rapids Break Road Woes

I'm going to be honest up front, I only had one eye on the Austin - Colorado game last night as most of my focus was on Patriots - Seahawks.  But I did watch it and did see a Rapids side who looked better on the road than they have since May, but still couldn't finish.

The first half was largely the Rapids controlling play and creating chances.  They scored first when a cross was centered to Yapi unmarked in the middle of the box.  He should have one-timed it but instead he tried to chest it down and by the time he took his second touch the Austin defense had clamped down on him.  However their clearance went right to Aaronson who did one-time it and a worm-burner of a shot went off the left post and in for the early lead.  Side note, seeing the Austin defender raise his hand for offside when he was standing between Yapi and the goal was fairly funny.  Maziz and Phillip also had shots on target int he half but generally they were at the keeper.

The second half tilted back to Austin.  They had the majority of play and opportunities in this half but Aaronson had a great look at goal with a curving shot that a laid out Stuver just managed to palm around the post.  Right after that the home team came down the field and managed to pull the Rapids defense out of position leaving Torres unmarked at the top of the box for a cross.  He put a looping header over Hansen to level the score.  Colorado overloaded their right side of the defense with both Cannon and Holding marking the same player (maybe Cannon was supposed to push out even wider to the wing?) and Navarro not moving over to the open space in the center.  After the goal both teams seemed to accept the draw in the last 10 minutes.

Once again our lack of attacking depth was a problem.  Minoungou and Harris were our only options on the bench and that's just not enough for this team.  Wells said there's some chance Farkhi and/or Whittaker could have their visas in time for Saturday's game and we really need them.  Hopefully that means the odds of having them in time for the USOC game next week is high.

Speaking of, Reggie Cannon got a yellow card last night when means he's suspended for Saturday's game due to yellow card accumulation.  That should make him well-rested for the semi-final.  Atencio had to come on for an injured Maziz in the first half.  Youssef walked out under his own power but was shaking his head like he knew something was wrong.  Not great.  Meanwhile Atencio picked up his 9th yellow card of the season, tied for 2nd in the league but Josh has played 500 minutes less than Segovia (9) and Durkin (10);.  Time to dial it back.

Also, Rafa had 2 goals in his first start for St. Louis last night, which is one more goal than the Rapids have scored since they traded him...

Man of the Match: Paxton Aaronson.  Apparently Matt Wells challenged him after the Columbus game to step up and be more involved and he responded last night with the best to chances the Rapids had.

Road Warriors Go Again

Honestly, this is my focus tomorrow night. Sorry Rapids.

The Rapids have a quick turn around from their Ohio trip to head down to Texas.  Austin is on the schedule and that schedule is getting tight.  Specifically this is when Matt Wells is going to have to start making some decisions about which games matter more over the next week and a half.  We've got Austin tomorrow night and then three games in a week at the Dick, the middle of which is the USOC semi-final.  Anyone that plays tomorrow night could have a week off to be fully rested for St. Louis in that one, but that means leaving Montreal on Saturday with a bare-bones lineup.  Or he could mix and match some starters on both games.  Add to that the possibility of Whittaker or Farkhi getting their visas and being available (Sadiq seems like a long-shot).  Kickoff tomorrow is at 6:30pm.

Player Availability:

OUT: GK Zach Steffen (shoulder), M Ali Fadal (head), M Ted Ku-DiPietro (shoulder), F Mamadou Billo Diop (knee)

QUESTIONABLE: GK Nico Hansen (leg)

I'm going to guess that Hansen doesn't make this trip to give him more rest and then if he's able he gets Montreal to get back into the flow before the USOC match.

Outside of that I'm not actually going to predict a lineup for this one.  Coming off the 3-0 mess on Saturday, the balancing of the roster against the USOC match, and the unknowns about the visas means nothing would surprise me tomorrow outside of the keeper position.

Prediction: 1-0 loss.  Until they actually prove it on the road I can't predict anything but a loss.  Austin is a bad team, as bad as Columbus with even a worse defense, but this Rapids team has no mental toughness and once things start going sideways they don't stop.