Zack Steffen Penalties Again! Colorado Rapids Win Leagues Cup Third Place!

CHESTER, Pa. – Sunday afternoon at Subaru Park was a microcosm of this Leagues Cup run for the Colorado Rapids. They “got punched in the face” as their manager would put it. They made some adjustments. Players made big plays in both boxes. Then they put their faith in goalkeeper Zack Steffen.

Colorado traveled to play Philadelphia Union in the Leagues Cup third place game. The winner would take 3rd and quality for the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup.

Chris Armas shook things up with the lineup from Wednesday. Calvin Harris started at right wing. Cole Bassett moved up to the left as well with Oliver Larraz and Connor Ronan in front of the back line. Jakob Glesnes was able to start at center back for the home side. Jesus Bueno started at the base of the diamond and was chippy.

Colorado were second best in the first half. Dániel Gazdag had a look in the opening minutes after Mikael Uhre couldn’t create for himself. Zack Steffen made a big save, one of three in the first half. Jack Elliot had a free kick in the 20th that went wide of the near post.

The Rapids struggled with Philadelphia’s high line and pressing. The home side created space and was a problem in wide areas. Colorado scored completely against the run of play in the 38th minute. Glesnes stepped up without winning the ball at midfield. That played Calvin Harris and Djordje Mihailović for a 2-on-1. Mihalović found Harris for a calm finish.

The Union would respond with two goals before halftime. Off a recycled set piece. Uhre found Kia Wagner who headed the ball across goal to an open Tai Baribo who headed it home. Baribo made it a brace in the 44th off a rebound after Quinn Sullivan hit the post.

“We started the game really well. We were all over Colorado. The chances we created could have had more goals. It wasn’t enough,” said Union manager Jim Curtin. “The second half was really poor. We didn’t have intensity. We thought maybe the game was already won and we paid for it.”

“They were overloading the wide areas. They kick out there 8s and creating overloads with the fullbacks and the 8s. This is not easy. We tried to drop our wingers. At the same time, provoke a different press. It changed the rhythm,” Armas told Burgundy Wave.

Colorado tied it 2-2 minutes into the second half. Off a second corner, Larraz volleyed it off a clearance, smashing it into the back of the net.

The match was even for the rest of the 90 minutes. The teams traded chances. The Union had some shots from sharp angles that went wide by a few feet. Lalas Abubakar headed a ball off the post off a recycled corner.

The match ended 2-2 and headed to penalties. It looked to be a dual of goalkeepers. Zack Steffen has found his 2018 form in Leagues Cup. Andre Blake was back to being himself. Both teams had won two shootout to this point with both keepers making big saves to advance.

After Mihailović’s opening goal, Steffen made a save on Gazdag then Baribo, diving to his right then left respectively. Connor Ronan had a chance to win it in the top of the fourth round but shot well over the bar. Philadelphia needed to be perfect the rest of the way. Olivier Mbaizo put his shot off the crossbar and out. The PK shootout finished 1-3.

“As far as Zack Steffen goes, midseason he took a lot of heat. There’s a lot of critics out there who are very quiet now. To see that he gets some recognition, possibly a national team call-up soon I’m sure. On a stage with a lot of eyes on it, he can show how good he is. His work ethic. His leadership. He’s a winner. How important this is to a team, you can’t put into words. Happy for Zack,” Armas said of his goalkeeper.

With that, the Colorado Rapids take Leagues Cup third place and have qualified for the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup.

This game was a microcosm of the tournament for the Rapids. They made some adjustments at halftime. They found a way to hang around. Some unlikely goal scorers finished their chances. Collectively, they made defensive plays when they needed to. Steffen finished it off.

“I’m really proud of our entire group. To start out with 47 teams and be top three in the end can only make a couch proud. It’s great stuff from our guys,” Armas said.

“The mood was relief and joy with exhausted faces. I got to see the inner belief growing. Only these experiences can do for guys, these winning moments.”

It’s symbolic that the Rapids beat the team they want to emulate to win the proverbial bronze medal. Philadelphia ball on a budget. They have really nuanced tactical ideas. They develop talent and sell it to Europe for a profit. Colorado is trying to succeed by doing a lot of what the Union have done at a top level for years. Perhaps this is a passing of the torch as Chris Armas looks to win Coach of the Year.

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken

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