Cole Bassett Olympics Rebuttal! Redemption Goals Against CITY!

COMMERCE CITY – It was a night of redemption and resilience for the Colorado Rapids. The Cole Bassett Olympics snub was just the start of it. The Burgundy Boys hosted St. Louis CITY for Sunday Night Football at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park. For the 16,331 in attendance, it did not disappoint.

Chris Armas had some decisions to make with Djordje Mihailović suspended and Lalas Abubakar questionable with a hamstring. Mike Edwards made his first MLS start in a back four. Bassett moved up to the No. 10. Connor Ronan and Oliver Larraz were in the double pivot. Kévin Cabral returned to right wing after his red card against LAFC.

St. Louis CITY were the walking wounded. Former Pid Anthony Markanich was on the bench. Eduard Löwen and João Klauss were not in the team.

The first half was eventful. Colorado opened the scoring just six minutes into the game. Some good defending just outside their box led to some rondo passing between Omir Fernandez and Rafael Navarro. Navarro played Cole Bassett into open space. He squared the ball a trailing Cabral just inside the box. Cabral hit the ball first time to beat goalkeeper Roman Bürki.

St. Louis made it 1-1 in the 12th. John Klein III floated past the back shoulder of Larraz to head it home. CITY fans traveled well as there was an audible cheer throughout the stadium. There was plenty of red, including in Section 105. The visitors were proactive on corners but did not score a second.

Things got complicated for them in the 32nd minute as Bürki had to be subbed off with an apparent back injury. Ben Lundt got a rude introduction to the match. Three minutes later, Colorado scored playing out of the back off a goal kick. Bassett delivered a weighted ball for Cabral to run in behind on. At the end line, he passed it back to Bassett who scored far side netting.

The half ended 2-1. It could have been 3-1 had Fernandez not hit the post on a counter attack in the 28th.

The second half could have had goals in it. Klein nearly scored in the opening minutes with a shot that went just wide of the far post. Navarro had a shot deflected off the post in the 54th.

Colorado controlled the game for the most part as the pace slowed down. Navarro had another chance or two. Sam Adeniran came off the bench and had two good looks on the counter. Goalkeeper Zack Steffen dealt with them.

The substitutes put the icing on the leftover 4th of July cake in the 81st. Calvin Harris delivered a great cross across goal for Jonathan Lewis, who volleyed it out of the air and into the top of the net. Colorado were cruising. Then Lewis found Darren Yapi to make the night all the more perfect. Lewis slipped the ball between two defenders. Yapi took a touch to a sharper angle than shot between the legs of Lundt for his first MLS goal. The match ended 4-1.

Basset responds to Olympics snub:

Diego Luna and Cole Bassett sent messages to the USMNT Olympic coaches this weekend. Luna had a goal and three assists for RSL on Saturday. Bassett had a goal and an assist in his natural No. 10 position. Both players were disappointed to miss out on Paris 2024. They’re having great club seasons and could make more statements on the 20th in the Rocky Mountain Cup.

“I had a point to prove tonight. It was a tough pill to swallow of being the last guy left off. I was told that I was on the roster. Then last minute, I got a call from the coach and they changed their mind on the last day. It was definitely tough news to take. You look at Diego Luna as well, we both show the quality that we have. We don’t want to be bitter. Be better not bitter. I hope they do well over there. Maybe it’s my time with Djordje gone to lead the attack,” Bassett told Burgundy Wave postgame.

“To play out of possession to step higher, start attacks, that first goal was maybe the most important. He is what this team is about. In terms of the Olympic team, it’s an 18 man roster. It’s going to be tight. I know how much it meant to him. I believe he’ll get there one day, maybe as an over age player. He’s always one of the first names in my team sheet. He’s important to us,” Armas added.

Redemption for Darren Yapi and others:

Darren Yapi has been in the doldrums for Rapids fans since that chip at Seattle last year went off the post. He’s huffed and puffed. He’s tried and gotten looks. He’s missed shots. He’s been blocked. He’s slept walked through sub appearances where he does not look like he’s going to score.

The 19-year-old finally buried one. You could see the relief from the player as he ran to the corner. You could see what it meant to his teammates as they dogpiled him. Armas and the coaches joined in. The kid just might be alright. The Darren Yapi Hype Train has turned into Yapi Hour. It just took 1,535 minutes.

Fittingly, Bassett even gave Yapi the Man of the Match Oar.

“I’m just very happy. My eyes lid up. I took an extra touch, I thought I was done. Slid it right through the legs. I just want to enjoy this moment with all my family and my friends. I was blown away by the support. I’m just so happy that everyone has my back,” Yapi said.

“I remind Darren that he’s young. He feels pressure to score goals. I tell him to have a process. What a moment,” said Armas.

Mike Edwards did well in his first MLS start. He got stuck in. He went stretches where he did not have much to do but pumped the fans up plenty.

“Tonight meant a lot. When maybe I didn’t believe in myself, everyone has kept me confident and kept me driven. Armas has told me ‘stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready.’ I just give it all I got. Tonight was awesome,” Edwards said.

Jonathan Lewis scored his first goal since May 2023. You have to go back to September 2022 to find his next most recent goal against a non-USL team.

“I just had a feeling I was going to score today. I’ve been training well. It’s a relief for sure. This has probably been one of my hardest years as a professional player. I can make an impact. I do think people have forgotten some of the things that I used to be able to do. I was once a national team player and a good player in this league. I’m not just a screw up,” Lewis said with a candid smile.

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken

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