Yapi Hour! Darren Yapi at the Death! Rapids win in Dallas!

FRISCO, Texas – August 2024 will live long in the memory of Colorado Rapids fans. Eight games in a month. A third place finish in Leagues Cup. Exciting games. Fantastic results in which the Burgundy Boys found ways to hang around, take their chances, and get the job done. Fans will remember Zack Steffen in penalties and Djordje Mihailović. They should also remember Darren Yapi Hour.

Chris Armas finally gave Cole Bassett a break. For the first time since May last year, Bassett was on the bench. Oli Larraz and Connor Ronan were in the double pivot. Calvin Harris and Jonathan Lewis were on the wing. With Sam Vines out with a hamstring injury, Jackson Travis start at left back. It was his first start since June 15.

Colorado started the more energetic of the two sides, but conceded first. Sam Junqua uncorked a shot from distance in the 6th minute. Goalkeeper Zack Steffen made the save but wasn’t able to control the rebound. Logan Farrington was on the doorstep for a tap in.

Five minutes later, Rafael Navarro made it 1-1. Djordje Mihailović and Calvin Harris to create a good counter attack situation. Harris took a shot, which Navarro directed on goal. Goalkeeper Maarten Paes made the save but the rebound fell to Navarro who headed it in.

Colorado settled into the game, with some good passing sequences. They absorbed pressure defensively but made plays. Dallas could have retaken the lead before haftime. Ruan made a great run in the 42nd, getting behind Travis. He cross the ball into the box. Sebastian Lletget was just outside the six yard box to receive it, but he put the ball well off target.

Hoops grew into the second half and earned their second goal. Center back Nkosi Tafari had an open header on a corner after Dallas tipped the field in their favor. Then the home side made a double sub, bringing on DPs Petar Musa and Jesus Ferreira. They combined in the 66th minute on a play that ended in a header from Musa to make it 2-1.

If nothing else, the August 2024 Rapids know how to hang around in games and take their chances when they matter. Against the run of play in the 76th, Keegan Rosenberry shot hard from outside the box. There was a scramble for the rebound. Tafari took down Mihailović in winning the ball. A penalty was called. Djordje was denied on the spot kick, but Bassett and Navarro crashed the box. Bassett found the Brazilian for a tap in to make it 2-2.

Both teams went for it after that. With nine minutes of stoppage time, this game had a winner in it. But did anyone have Darren Yapi scoring it? Three minutes into stoppage time. Mihailović floated the ball into the box right as Yapi made a run. He beat his mark and the keeper to it, chipping it to score. The match ended 2-3.

Rafael Navarro brace! Yapi Hour!

Colorado had 2.9 xG to Dallas’ 2.6. Take away the penalty, and Dallas had a half goal advantage. That was however with Dallas outshooting them 21-14. This was a bit of a smash and grab to the eye test. Colorado created fewer but higher quality chances. What matters is that they finished them.

A brace from Navarro sees him on 13 goals in MLS play, just three away from the club season record. They were two opportunistic goals and well taken. It was poetic given his first goal for the club was at Dallas last year.

Yapi has now scored three goals in 12 appearances since opening his account in July. All three have been in stoppage time. Two have been winners. He’s doing this at 18.

“That’s the word: Mature. He’s a young player. He believes he’s got big things ahead. He’s been training well. He’s been coming into games with really mature performances. Great goal. Such an important goal for our club,” Armas told Burgundy Wave of the young striker.

“In Brazil, when an academy product comes out and scores a game winner for the first team, it’s called a Talisman. Yapi is a Talisman. Very happy for how he’s performing for the club,” Navarro added.

A fitting end to August:

Colorado Rapids played eight game in August. That included four straight wins over Liga MX teams and winning the third place game at Philadelphia Union. Their only MLS match of the calendar month might as well have been a Leagues Cup game. It was so similar.

They got punched in the mouth six minutes in. They were underwhelming at times. For a 3-2 game, it was a bit of a slog. A game of moments. But they hung around and were at their best when they needed to be. Dallas brought their stars on with 30 minutes to go and took the lead, and Colorado found a way to win. In the first game back in MLS, it had Leagues Cup and Rocky Mountain Cup energy.

Steffen and Travis roll with it:

There were some rough moments in this game. Plenty of players did not have great games. Steffen was named the Best Goalkeeper of Leagues Cup. Then in the next game, he bobbles the ball to give up the first goal. He responded with some big saves.

Travis had a tough test in this game. Ruan went after him and beat him multiple times. He hung in there. Didn’t try to do too much. He didn’t turn the ball over in bad spots. Progress.

“When you think about the belief we have in young players, they don’t let you down. They cary their weight. They love that they give you opportunity. Jackson thanked me after the game. Jackson hung in there all night. Didn’t shy away. He was in a battle and he’ll learn a lot from that,” Armas said.

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken

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