Rapids Transition Defense Comes up Short in Loss to LA Galaxy

COMMERCE CITY – For all the joy and success the 2024 Colorado Rapids have had, their playoff hype appears to be fading. They hosted LA Galaxy on Wednesday night in the antepenultimate game of the regular season. At least was Bark at the Park night.

Zack Steffen started in goal and wore the armband off his first callup for the USMNT in two years. Reggie Cannon and Jackson Travis were at fullback with Keegan Rosenberry on the bench. Connor Ronan and Oli Larraz were in the double pivot with Cole Bassett unavailable. Calvin Harris was in at right wing.

There were no big surprises for LA Galaxy other than Marco Reus being out injured. The big three of Riqui Puig, Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil started.

The Rapids had the better start. They had a handful of half chances in the opening minutes. Rafael Navarro had a back-to-goal header in the 24th minute but the shot went wide of the post. Minutes later, Lalas Abubakar dove at the back post for a ball on a free kick from Djordje Mihailović.

Colorado finally cashed in on the stroke of halftime. Ronan broke up a Gs counter attack off a Rapids corner. He found Reggie Cannon, who passed to Mihailović. He passed to an open Ronan who cut inside and picked out the far bottom corner.

After the goal, Ronan ran to the bench to hold up a shirt honoring Kévin and Rémi Cabral’s father, who passed away recently.

Galaxy were at their best in transition through Pec. Travis did well on several 1-v-1 situations against the record signing for the visitors. Ronan and Andreas Maxsø made big plays defensively when called upon.

Los Angeles punched Colorado in the mouth to start the half. Pec separated on a through ball in the 50th minute, passing it into the net. Nine minutes later, another counter through a gaping midfield saw Puig score his signature goal from the top of the box.

The game opened up after that. Galaxy should have made it 1-3 in the 66th. There was a crazy sequence in which Paintsil played forward to Pec and Dejan Joveljic. Steffen made some great saves but the play was called back for offsides on Paintsil.

Mihailović hit the outside of the post on a free kick in the 70th. Minutes later they had another free kick. Mihailović played to Lewis at the top of the box who swung and missed. Sam Vines subbed on for his first minute since August 25 and prevented a goal in the 76th, blocking a shot from Joveljic.

Puig secured the win at the start of stoppage time, on a very similar counter attack. The match ended 1-3 to the visitors.

Rapids transition defense struggling: Are they burned out?

Colorado were the better team in the first half but couldn’t keep up the energy in the second. The three Galaxy goals were essentially the same. It was way too easy. Defending the counter attack is becoming a weakness, and one an un-rotated team would struggle with come the end of the year.

This comes after similar lackluster performances and losses at Sporting KC and Minnesota United. They were 4-0-2 in home games after road losses coming into tonight. They are now 4-1-2.

Their form is regressing. They’re becoming predictable and predictably beatable. Is the lack of depth coming back to bite them?

“It’s such a frustrating night. Their goals were in transition. That’s the only way they had the up on us. The thing that harms this team the most is transition football. It was such an easy mistake to take you out of the game. Riqui Puig, world class player. That’s something we have to do better. Our prevention defense. Have a man back. We have to get that right, myself included,” Cannon told Burgundy Wave.

“Close to the end of the season, it’s difficult to keep the energy high. I think we’ve done well as a team to keep a good morale. Two loses in a row, it hurts. The team’s just preparing for the playoffs. We want to win these next two games. That’s the most important thing,” added Vines.

Zack to the Nats:

On a lighter note, goalkeeper Zack Steffen got called up to the USMNT before the game. He was one of four goalkeepers Mauricio Pochettino called up for his first international camp. Steffen made some big saves in this game. He was not the most at fault for any of the three goals conceded.

“There’s no one that’s more deserving him. He’s coming in the locker room with his eye half shut from getting kneed in the face and he’s saying we need to be better. He’s a warrior. He’s a great person. He’s going to make such a good run for that 2026 team,” said Cannon.

“He has shown that he can make big saves and build attacks. He’s got such a good process. Zack’s been wanting that. It’s hard to ignore what he’s done this year. He’s going to run with it,” Armas added.

Connor Ronan the No. 6 and good teammate:

The Rapids defensive shape is still a concern. A bandaid over the wound right now is Ronan in the double pivot. He was great at times sitting in front of the center backs. He didn’t cover himself in glory on the three plays that led to goals, but neither did anyone else. Ronan’s a box-to-box bulldog on his best night. Scoring his first goal of the year, on his left foot no less. He’s becoming a threat on both sides of the ball. That will be needed.

“The defensive work is something I’m working on to have as the base of my game. I want to try and get up the pitch and create. I felt like tonight because we were pressing high, it allowed me to get up the pitch. If it’s my left foot, I’m not too sure where it’s going,” said Ronan.

Ronan was also the center of a team moment to honor Cabral’s late farther. It was a feel good moment regardless of the final score.

“We found out the news this week about Kévin. He’s been back in France with his family. We had a chat before the game, whoever gets the first goal, make sure we go over to the side. We had a jersey made. We’re a tight group. We’ll rally around Kévin. He’ll be ok.”

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken

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