Colorado Rapids 2 Playoffs Preview

COMMERCE CITY – Colorado Rapids 2 kickoff their 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs tonight. They are the top seed. All playoff games they play will be at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado. Tonight they play San Jose Earthquakes II.

R2 come in having had a spectacular turn around from the previous season. General Manager Brian Crookham credits the collective learning of the organization from the first year of NEXT Pro. They were figuring things out in real time last year. Their preseason was more prepared from the start.

“For me, I think that not being afraid to stick to standards and just ensure that that everything we do is, you know, it’s probably my job to be the standard bearer for the group and allow everybody else to go to go do their job. We’ve hired very good people and that includes the planning staff,” Crookham told Burgundy Wave.

“This is success because we have earned the right to play in games that are going to bring more pressure. Um, this is what the player must be seeking because it’s in these types of games where players have the best chance to prove who they are. And again, I think that’s what that’s what we’re excited about,” said Bushey.

They’ve made good additions to the team and made them early enough in the year. Rapidos had three players named to the Best XI in Rémi Cabral, Yosuke Hanya and Oliver Larraz. Adam Beaudry was a finalist for Goalkeeper of the Year. Cabral’s hattrick in the final game of the regular season was enough for him to finish in a three-way tie for the Golden Boot.

“I’m really really happy for him. He had a difficult season last year. For me, playing with those players, not just Rémi, those creative players alongside me how it helps me. I can do whatever I want with those players. Our chemistry has been really good,” Hanya told Burgundy Wave.

It is a valid question what attendance will look like in this game. Personnel wise, it could be a “tight turnaround” as Bushey said for goalkeeper Abe Rodriguez coming back with the first team from their Saturday night game in Houston. Same for several R2 players traveling with the first team. Multiple club staff have confirmed their priority is being competitive in these playoffs to honor what those players have done, even with first team opportunities coming up for players like Sebastian Anderson.

They now turn their focus to Quakes II, who gave them a difficult match back in June. It was 2-0 to the visitors before the hour mark. An 81st minute second yellow to Keegan Tingey got Colorado back in the match. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Daouda Amadou scored to make it 2-2. Colorado won the penalty shootout 4-2.

San Jose won their first round matchup at St. Louis 2-0. Eduardo Blancas did not score in that game but he is their leading goal scorer with 12 goals and three assists.

“They’re a nice soccer playing team. I really do have a great deal of respect for the style of play, the movement, the interchange. Some of what they do better than some of the other teams is the timing with which they move, the timing with which they interchange positions. They have a lot of players who are comfortable with the ball. We have to be careful to not allow ourselves to be playing at a numerical disadvantage,” said Buskey.

“In terms of attacking quality, they have really good players un front. They are very aggressive, they have their fullbacks really high. We always have a mentality going into the game: Make sure you don’t show too much respect for them. Don’t let them do what they want,” added Hanya.

San Jose might have extra motivation given the nature of the playoff format. NEXT Pro decided for the first two rounds (Colorado got a first round bye as conference champions) to let the higher seeded team pick their opponent. It already has ended poorly for at least one team.

“It is freaking brutal. You’ll understand exactly how much we respect everybody in the league. I’m not a big fan of it. Maybe next year it’ll be something. It’s caused buzz,” Crookham said when asked about what he thought of picking an opponent.

I think the Rapids win a close one late 2-1. Cabral scores the winner in transition.

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken.

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