Nine-Man Rapids Lose 2-0 at Orlando City

Head Coach Robin Fraser and Colorado Rapids finally had a full week of training to prepare for the game. They were healthy and ready for a Saturday road match at Orlando City. They were in position to get a result against an Orlando team that had been on poor form. But then two red cards ruined that idea and gave Rapids fans flashbacks to the MLS Is Back game against Kanas City.

Colorado were the healthiest they’ve been in over a month. Diego Rubio was out with a reported oblique injury. Braian Galván got just his second start of the MLS season. The Rapids were in a back four with Lalals Abubakar on the right and Keegan Rosneberry at left back. Cole Bassett and Jonathan Lewis started in attack behind Kévin Cabral. Marko Ilić got his third straight league start in goal.

The visitors had little going offensively in the first half. Though they held their own defensively. The Lions had seven first half shots but just two were on target. Facundo Torres had a great look eight minutes in but his shot went wide. Mauricio Pereyra forced a great save out of Ilić in first half stoppage time.

The story of the first half came in 39th minute though. Galván arrived late going for the ball against Wilder Cartagena. The Argentinian got a high boot into the body of Cartagena and was given a straight red. It was the second sending off of the year for Galván. For the second game in a row, the Pids were down a man.

The second half started with a siege mentality. Steven Beitashour subbed on at the break for Cabral as the Pids went 3-5-1 with Lewis up top. Orlando threw numbers forward and put repeated service into the box. Colorado’s defense was finally broken in the 56th minute.

Ilić made a great kick save on the initial shot before Facundo Torres shot the ball off Andreas Maxsø and in.

Frustrations continues for Colorado as Abubakar was given a second yellow in the 75th minute, reducing the Rapids to nine men for the second time in Fraser’s tenure.

Orlando controlled the game, kept the ball, and created the occasional shot. Ramiro Enrique scored in garbage time to make the final score 2-0.

“The red card came at a disappointing time for us. Once we get that second one, it’s pretty much game over”, midfielder Connor Ronan said after the match.

Frustrated nine-man Rapids undisciplined or unlucky?

There’s only so much the players left on the pitch could do shorthanded. The effort was there. The execution was not. Fraser’s criticized the officiating in recent weeks but there’s no arguing after this one. Galván’s tackle was a red card. Abubakar’s two fouls were yellows.

“I don’t understand how that’s not a red card”, Fraser said of a first half play where Cabral was taken down with just one defender back and nearly level with him.

“[Referee Rosendo Mendoza] was pretty happy and theatrical to give Lalas his second yellow card. We definitely feel snake bitten. The team feels hard done by the officials every single time they go out.

“[Braian]’s an emotional player, which has its positives. With the red card, you see the negatives. He has that fiery side that he has to keep under control at times”, added Ronan.

Fraser does not believe his team has a discipline problem. Complaints about Lewis not earning a DOGSO red card at Columbus and Moïse Bombito’s soft red card last week are fair. There’s no denying Galván’s red card was deserved. Abubakar’s yellows were fair. Both should have known better. Robin Jansson was back enough to where the tackle on Cabral would have been a harsh DOGSO red card.

In the end, it didn’t really matter. Good teams overcome adversity, whether it’s self-inflicted or due to the referee. The Rapids cannot overcome any adversity at the moment. They’re one point of LA Galaxy for the Wooden Spoon. They’re seven points below the playoff line. It’s time to start discussing whether this is the worst team in MLS.

Even at full strength, it’s not good enough:

Orlando had a lot of the ball before the first sending off. They got in good areas but only had one chance. That said, the Rapids were still really defensive to start the game. This team can’t be successful sitting back and absorbing pressure like that. They were not threatening in the few moments they did get forward. A 50 minute rain delay only delayed the inevitable.

“At the end of the day we know that we have to be better in certain moments. Be more precise in both boxes. The injuries, and callups, and suspensions have been really difficult to deal with”, said Fraser.

“There is no way to really distinguish or quantify how much of this and how much of that has led to it. We are where we are. We have to dig ourselves out.

Two shots in the first 20 minutes then nothing before the second Lions’ goal. Their most exciting chances of the second half was a play where Lewis was offside and a hopeful shot from Darren Yapi. This team needs Diego Rubio. It misses Jack Price. They need more help beyond those two as well.

Is Marko Ilić winning the goalkeeper position?

The Serbian goalkeeper has now started three straight games in league play for Fraser. He hasn’t been directly at fault for any of the five goals he’s given up in that time.

“His patience to get into the team is a testament to him. He’s kept his head down, not complained. It’s a nice problem to have when you have two goalkeepers competing for the spot. He’s been a big help for us in the buildout”, Ronan said of his Serbian teammate.

William Yarbrough’s last start was a 1-0 loss to Cincinnati where the goal he gave up was poor. Ilić could have won the job in training for now. Or this could be the club giving him a run out to determine if they want to make the loan permanent later this summer.

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken.

Thank you for reading Burgundy Wave. If you want to support us, join our Patreon starting at $5/month.