Rapids Defense Struggles in Loss at Cincy. Mihailović Denied Penalty?

CINCINNATI, Ohio – Well, it was fun while it lasted. Colorado Rapids’ five game unbeaten streak came to an end Saturday early evening at FC Cincinnati. After four matches, FCC have a second win in four games against the Burgundy Boys. The Rapids defense was not good enough and Calvin Harris did not have his revenge tour.

Chris Armas kept the starting lineup the same from last week against FC Dallas, deservedly so. The recently signed goalkeeper Ethan Bandré was on the bench. So was Lamine Diack and Kimani Stewart-Baynes after his illness. Harris started in his first return to TQL Stadium since being traded between these teams. Cincinnati’s one lineup question was at striker. Corey Baird and Yuya Kubo started again up top.

The first half was energetic and competitive, with FCC gradually gaining ground. Colorado were very direct, especially through Harris. They had looks on set pieces. Cole Bassett hit the post in the 16th off a recycled corner. Their best look came 20 minutes in. Djordje Mihailović found space going at goal. He shot hard and low. It took a touch off a defender but was ruled a goal kick.

Cincy were at their best in possession. They had 61% of the ball and outshot Colorado 13-5 (6-0 on goal). Corey Baird hit the post in the 36th minute with goalkeeper Zack Steffen on the ground after coming off his line to beat Kubo to the ball on a breakaway. The home side deservedly took the lead in the 42nd. MLS MVP Lucho Acosta played a one-two with Baird to beat Oli Larraz and Moïse Bombito and score. Bassett was upfield and out of position. The half ended 1-0.

The second half was more open, but the visitors were still lacking quality. Bombito and Steffen were called upon to make 1-v-1 defensive plays. Bombito used his speed to chase down loose balls. Steffen denied Kubo again on a breakaway. Baird made it 2-0 in 64 minutes. Working off a free kick at midfield, Luca Orellano dinked the ball around the defense. Baird ran on goal and chipped Steffen. Bombito stepped to Orellano right before the pass, creating space for the goal to be scored.

The game looked to be over in the 69th. VAR reviewed a play in which Kubo got in behind, rounded Steffen, and scored. VAR found that he was offside and committed a handball, keeping the score 2-0. Moments later, Bombito headed down a ball on a corner to make it 2-1, giving the Pids life. The comeback was never really on though and Cincinnati won the match.

Resilience and reality in the face of defeat:

Colorado showed a lot of effort at times, but the quality simply wasn’t there. It wasn’t good enough. The defense, as in the backline and defensive midfielders, got pulled out on both goals. Bassett and Larraz were challenged to defend and didn’t do well enough. The attack just wasn’t there from the run of play. Mihailović and Rafael Navarro again were not good enough. The attacking corp struggles to make good and quick decisions in transition. If they can’t do that against good teams, they will lose those games.

“Not the result we came for. Not the performance we came for. On a bunch of levels we’re disappointed. We know it’s not going to be smooth saying all the time. Sticking to who we are, we got away from that tonight,” Armas said in his postgame opening statement.

“We had a lot of unforced errors in my opinion. They came out exactly how they thought we would. We know we could be better with the ball. Too many back passes, taking the easy way out, not enough movement off the ball.

“We got to show up on the night and play the way we know how, which is much more assertive, much more proactive, much more vertical.”

Bombito felt similarly about the issues in the attack. “They held us quite well. Credit to Cincinnati,” adding “When we’re a bit too stretches and trying to play vertical, we have to be better at winning those second balls. We were best at (in previous games). It was a bit too frantic, trying to play too vertical too quickly.”

Defensively, he took responsibility and saw similarities in the goals conceded:

“I got to do some video session. On the first goal, I was dragged out a bit too much. On the second goal, we’re a bit too stretched out. I was froze again. I got to do better on those two goals.”

Officiating:

There were a few moments where the referee drew the ire of both fanbases. Bombito and Andreas Maxsø had possible handball penalties that would have been questionable if called. In this reporter’s opinion, Kubo was onside on that play in the 68th but he definitely committed a handball.

In the 49th, Mihailović was pulled down in the box, but appeared to go down easy. He’d gone to ground previously in the game. He’s mouthed off to officials a few times this season. That play was 50/50 for this writer. Did Mihailović go down to easy? Should VAR have had Sergii Boiko take a second look? Either way, Rapids fans will continue to feel unfairly disrespected by MLS officiating.

Lastly, hearing the in-stadium explanation live was nice.

Photo Credit: Reid Connelly, MLS Fantasy Boss

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