Rapids 2 Eliminated by Austin II in Penalties

COMMERCE CITY – Colorado Rapids 2 hosted Austin FC II in the MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference Final on Sunday night. The winner would play Columbus in the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro final a week later. Would Colorado win to go on and host the final or would Austin pull a shocker to have Rapids 2 eliminated at DICK’s?

Abraham Rodriguez was again in goal even though he was on the bench for the first team the previous day. Adam Beaudry was unavailable with a toe injury. Lars Helleren was on the bench as a result. Sebastian Anderson was out having played 90 in Dallas. The 19-year-old Steve Flores started on the right in a back four as a result. Jackson Travis was at the other flank.

The first half was open and energetic. Austin did well to track Rémi Cabral, especially when there long balls to him.

Yosuke Hanya had the first good chance a half hour in. A counter attack sprung after Cabral won a 50/50 ball at midfield. He dribbled forward and shot from a tight angle. Goalkeeper of the Year Damian Las made the save. Mike Edwards nearly scored on the ensuing corner but the header was just wide.

ATX had a crazy sequence in the box in the 36th with several headers by both teams. Jackson Travis made the crucial clearance for a corner.

The half ended 0-0 with Oli Larraz getting the only yellow card. It was questionable as he got between Christo Vela and the ball at midfield.

Second half started slower than the first. Alonso Ramírez had the first good look at goal in the 53rd. Austin’s spacing in every phase improved while Colorado’s passes remained just a bit off.

Colorado had two great looks starting in the 68th. Blake Malone won a header on a free kick at the side of the box but sent it over the bar. Then Darren Yapi created his own shot but fired right at Las in the 71st. Both teams tightened up defensively and negated the other’s attacking strength.

Austin nearly had the winner in the 89th. Douda Amadou came in with a tackle from behind that Austin’s bench wanted a penalty on. That led to a Rapids turnover. Rodriguez made the initial save on Valentin Noël and the rebound was skied by Cheick Touré. The 90 minutes ended 0-0 and headed to extra time.

Extra time picked up where the second half left off. Austin had more of the ball and more energy. Hanya had a great chance off a defensive free kick but again ran himself into a defender in the box in the 99th. Moments later he again had the ball and was challenged by Joe Hafferty. The Japanese went down but referee Alexis Da Silva was having none of it.

The final 15 minutes of the 120 were slow, with both teams tired and playing conservative. Hanya again had a great chance that was closed down just in time. Austin had an open sequence but they passed the ball around too much for the perfect shot that never came. Sub Robinson Aguire had an open look off an attacking throw in but he shot right at Las. Rodriguez made a fantastic save in the final minutes with his left arm at the near post off a Bobosi Byaruhanga shot. We headed to penalties.

Rodriguez nearly saved the first penalty but the backspin saw it barely cross the goal. Larraz went down the middle and Las did not move to make the save in the bottom of the first. Las then made an arm save on Yapi in the bottom of the third to make it 3-1 Austin. Jonathan Santillan converted in the top of the forth saw Rapids 2 eliminated. Austin won 0-0 (1-4).

Shifty Thrifty Steve Flores, but Anderson Missed:

Flores put in a shift. He didn’t look out of place defensively for most of the game. But there were moments he didn’t make a play to advance the game in ways Sebastian Anderson would have. The same could be said for Daniel Garcia in extra time.

Bushey surely would have loved to have Beaudry and Anderson available for this game.

“All season, he’s been great. He’s been a top player. In my opinion, he’s been someone who’s shown a bunch of growth. When we knew he was going to play this game, we didn’t have a doubt that he was going to be good. He was going to be solid. He showed it today,” Rodriguez said of Flores.

A Tight Closed Game. Penalties Are Cruel.

This was a true playoff game. Both teams were quality in defense. Cautious to not make a mistake. At times more concerned about not losing the game than trying to win it. This was especially true for the Rapids in the final 60 minutes. The final product just wasn’t there. Hanya couldn’t finish. Cabral was on an island. Hafferty and Las were class all night. It sucks that one team had to lose this in penalties.

“It hurts. I wish I could have gotten the trophy for the club. It’s unlucky. I don’t know how many PKs that they’ve had. So you don’t know what side when they’re about to shoot. Nothing different [in the preparation]. I’d have to look back at [the first PK], but it should be a save,” said Rodriguez.

“I’ve gone down the middle a couple of times and it’s worked every time. Typically, the goalkeeper doesn’t think you’re going down the middle first shot, obviously, if I had it back I’d like to go one way or the other and feel like at least you could say you didn’t give him a chance to save it, and, if he makes a good save he does. You know that’s just the decision I’ve made and in training that’s what I did. That was a penalty I was comfortable with and unfortunately he didn’t dive,” said Larraz.

A Season Of Growth Regardless:

Losing sucks. Losing for the first time in for games to a good team sucks. Losing at home in penalties in the Conference Final really sucks.

One PK loss doesn’t undo all the progress the players and coaches made this year. Erik Bushey was fantastic. Rapids Homegrowns Larraz, Edwards, Anderson, and Travis all made huge strides. They along with R2 players like Vargas, Hanya, and Malone could get opportunities at the next level in 2024, here or elsewhere.

“I tried to reiterate my pride for the players. Nobody could have expected what we did over these last 30 games. The players have come together and put together a wonderful product. They’ve made a lot of people proud. For that I’m pleased. If there was one message it was how proud I am of the players,” said Bushey.

“I think the most impressive part was the growth. If you see us in preseason and how we train, and, not to say that it was a bad preseason but it was a different team as opposed to now. I look across the locker room now, guys have been tried and tested and they responded well. We created a winning culture and I think that was the most important part of this year. Every single game we went into there was an expectation to win, and it’s a great feeling to have and a great way to learn how to play,” added Larraz.

This special season with so much quality and magical moments just won’t end in lifting a trophy. This team felt like a team of destiny at times. Football is a beautiful and cruel game sometimes.

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken.

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