Thank God That’s Over: Rapids Lose Fourth to RSL in Abe Rodriguez Start

COMMERCE CITY – Thank God that’s over. The 2023 Colorado Rapids season came to an end on Saturday night. The Burgundy Boys hosted Real Salt Lake for Decision Day. It was the fourth matchup between the teams, all comps this year.

Chris Little’s final XI of the year was not exactly Play Your Kids. Abraham Rodriguez got his first every league start in goal with the other keepers injured. Sebastian Anderson started again at right back. Jonathan Lewis started on the wing. Oliver Larraz was on the bench. The lineup was otherwise unsurprising.

Colorado came out flying in the opening minutes. Rafael Navarro had an open header at the back post just seven minutes in on a cross from Jonathan Lewis. Andreas Maxsø had a second chance off a corner that was saved by goalkeeper Zac MacMath. Then Jonathan Lewis had a near breakaway set up by Andrew Gutman and Navarro, but he shot right at the keeper.

RSL’s best chance of the half came five minutes in. Anderson Julio made a good run in behind to square it to Danny Musovski inside the six yard box. Abe Rod made a great save, one of two he’d make in the half.

The moment of the half came on the half hour. Rodriguez came off his line to collect a long pass just inside his box. Anderson Julio slid in late, studs on the ground, into the body of Rodriguez. The keeper got up to stand over the striker as Burgundy shirts surrounded him. Referee Timothy Ford got between Julio and the others, escorting him to midfield before showing a yellow card.

The game tightened up in the second half with RSL having more of the ball. Colorado were compact at the back with Rodriguez making simple good decisions.

The game seemed destined for 0-0 before the 74th minute. Diego Luna ran down a ball against Moïse Bombito. Bombito went down under a challenge and the ball rolled close to out of play. Luna collected the ball, dribbled on goal unchallenged, and smashed it past Rodriguez.

Colorado’s one good chance before fulltime came in the 85th. Navarro and Darren Yapi combined to send Kévin Cabral on goal. He shot right into the keeper. The match ended 1-0.

Abraham Rodriguez first start, five Homegrowns at once:

Two veteran goalkeepers in doubt. Abraham Rodriguez gets his second ever appearance in MLS play and his first start. He looked the part. The goal was not his fault. Four saves. Hopefully there’s more first team opportunities to come for the Homegrown.

“I’m so pleased for him. He’s committed. He cares passionately about the club. With Marko’s (Ilić) illness, that gave him the opportunity. Like with all young players, when they get an opportunity, you find out where they are. Abe was fantastic tonight. No fault on the game. Delighted for him,” Little told Burgundy Wave.

At one point in the second half, there were five Homegrowns on the field. That could be a club record. Oliver Larraz and Darren Yapi were both subs. All three Homegrowns who started finished the game. Cole Bassett was dangerous. Sebastian Anderson again was solid at right back.

“It means a lot. It was like that U-17 team we had. Really happy for the guys. Hopefully we can inspire the generation coming up,” Rodriguez added, referring the U-17 Rapids team that had Bassett, Larraz, and Anderson. The team was at one point fifth in the country.

Four loses to RSL in one year, in another terrible year:

Worst points per game average in club history with 0.79 (27 points in 34 games). Four losses in one year to RSL with two goals scored with seven goals against. The RSL tifo reading “Our Rivalry Deserves Better,” a play on the C38 banners.

Another good first half leads to chances but no goals. RSL gets one great chance in the second half, with some luck from the officiating, and they score. Cabral and Lewis get big chances and miss them. Fittingly, the final game of 2023 was oh so Rapids.

“Tonight’s game wrapped up the whole season. Really good moments, moments where we have to finish. We don’t. We let the team into the game. They get a bit of momentum. Maybe the ref makes a bad call. We let in one sloppy goal and we can’t find our way back into the game. That’s how a lot of the year went,” Bassett summed up the night and the season.

The Rocky Mountain Cup deserves to be an actual rivalry. That can’t happen if it’s so one-sided. This was the worst season in Rapids history. It needs to be better. Everyone at the club deserves for it to be better. That starts at the top. It’s not obvious how ownership will be making it better going forward. That is so Rapids.

Postgame Cryptic Tweet:

Also, Diego Rubio (who was not in the lineup) hinted he’s leaving the club. He is eligible for free agency. He’s 30-years-old. He has an injury history. He’s also been the best attacker on the team for several years. He’s currently the third longest tenured Rapid behind Danny Wilson and Jack Price.

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken.

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