Captain Andreas Maxsø Leads Rapids to Home Win Over Austin

COMMERCE CITY – Colorado Rapids hosted Austin FC on Saturday night. Captain Andreas Maxsø and company were looking for a second result at home of the week in an effort to now win the Wooden Spoon. Verde were circling the drain, trying to win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

It was again a different lineup from interim manager Chris Little. Homegrown Sebastian Anderson made his first MLS start since August 31, 2019 (Robin Fraser’s first game in charge). Oli Larraz was on the bench. Andrew Gutman returned to left back in a back four. Sidnei Tavares missed his third straight game with an illness, which is not COVID.

Sebastián Driussi was unavailable for Austin. Emiliano Rigoni started up top.

The fist half had some good ball movement but lacked chances on goal. Verde tried to serve the ball into Rigoni several times with varying success. He had a good chance on a direct free kick in the 25th but goalkeeper Marko Ilić made the diving save.

Colorado’s best chances came on corners. Cole Bassett and Moïse Bombito both missed chances. Finally, the captain Andreas Maxsø won his shoving match in the 41st to get a cool finish with his right foot. The half ended 1-0. It was Colorado’s first first half lead since May 6 at LA Galaxy.

The second half similarly took some time to come alive. Austin should have made it 1-1 in the 71st minute. Marko Ilić made a great save point-blank on a Will Bruin header. Eventually Rigoni was denied by the keeper when the ball went back into the box. Bruin missed a sitter on the rebound.

The teams traded blows in stoppage time as the match ended 1-0.

Captain Andreas Maxsø Gløriøus Cørner Gøal

That was Maxsø’s second goal in Burgundy, his first since the win over FC Dallas in July. Colorado took a first half lead for the first time since May. He’s looked good in a back four next to Bombito. His physicality has come out in a good way defensively. The goal was a reward for improved form from the captain.

“We played a really solid game. Everyone was working really hard. That’s why we got the clean sheet. I’m happy for the team,” said the Danish international.

“He changed some tactical stuff. It makes us easier for us. We are more compact. We don’t let them play between the lines. It’s making it easier for us.”

“Today was a fantastic game for him. He showed his experience. Dealing with crosses, the amount of first contact he was getting on crosses was fantastic. We had two inexperienced players in the back line. He’s done a really good job in organizing them,” Little added.

Wooden Spoon and Playoff Implications

This was a huge week for Colorado trying to not get the Wooden Spoon. Two decent performances and four points from back-to-back home games. They’re now four points clear of Toronto FC with three games left for both clubs. This could be the week we look back on when they avoid finishing last.

For Austin, this all but mathematically ends their season. They’re on 35 points with three games left. The playoff line is at 41 points. Verde can get at most 44 points. This was their most winnable game left. Another loss and they’re out.

Broken Ducks and Holdouts

The won their second goal in five matches under Chris Little. That’s seven points for 1.4 points per game. Several really good individual performances from starters and subs. Ilić with his second clean sheet in league play, first since June. The Chris Little Effect continues.

Still, the new international signings are waiting to break out. Tavares missing games is not helping him get familiar with the club. Navarro continues to due well in hold up play. He had several good sequences in the second half in transition. Still, DP strikers are judged on goals. He’s not getting big chances of late other than the break in stoppage time. He’s been everything but goal dangerous. It would be nice for these two to have a good end to the year to have some momentum for the 2024 preseason.

The Kids are Alright

Anderson with his first league start in over four years. Bombito got his fourth start in five games. They both looked the part. Neither made a big mistake that led to Austin chances. Anderson particularly had a night given how he’s played with Rapids 2 in earning the start.

“It’s been a long time coming for sure. I’m just happy to help the team. I’ve kept my head down and waited for an opportunity,” Anderson said. “Since Chris has been here, us defenders have been more comfortable. He wants us to play more and make mistakes. Everyone’s training their hearts out. It’s really good right now,” said Anderson.

“I’m delighted for him. I thought he did so well. You could see in the beginning it was his first game in awhile. He was growing into the game. He was excellent. To get a clean sheet, he was covering positions were really good. His closing speed as a fullback, defending on the time of the pass, was excellent. When we had the ball, he looked to get forward and was a threat. He’s worked super hard. He’s had limited opportunity. Sometimes as a player, their attitude can deviate or they can lose faith. He’s always trained well. He deserved the opportunity,” Little said of Anderson.

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken.

Thank you for reading Burgundy Wave. If you want to support us, join our Patreon starting at $5/month. Also, we’re always looking for new talent to contribute to the site, develop, and give opportunities to. If you’re interested in covering Colorado Soccer in any way, let us know.