Djordje Mihailović Ankle Sprain Buzzkills Decision Day as Colorado Rapids Lose at Austin

AUSTIN, Texas – Decision Day left many in the Rapids Community exhausted and covered in eraser shavings. The final day of the MLS regular season saw back and forth seeding battles. It was not a good day for the Burgundy Boys but through no action of their own, the worst possible outcome was avoided.

The Pids entered the day in 6th place in the Western Conference. Various scenarios could have seen them finish between 5th and 7th. It was undecided who their opponent would be in the Best-Of-Three Round of 16. The top for teams were all a possibility.

This was a big lineup decision for Rapids manager Chris Armas. With Zack Steffen out from an injury during his USMNT call-up, rookie Homegrown Adam Beaudry made his MLS debut in goal. Reggie Canon was at left back. Omir Fernandez and Jonathan Lewis were on the wing. Kévin Cabral was well enough to make the bench for the first time since his elbow injury at LA Galaxy. For the fourth straight game, Cole Bassett was not in the team.

For Austin, their big players started for their final game of 2024. Sebastian Driussi was in midfield. Former Rapid attacker Diego Rubio was up top.

The first half was a roller coaster of emotions for Colorado. Just seven minutes in, Djordje Mihailović sustained a right ankle injury while challenging Driussi. He was stretchered off with the Apple TV broadcast describing the injury as an ankle sprain.

Moments after that play, Connor Ronan was called for a penalty, contacted the back foot of Rubio. Eight minutes into his MLS debut, Beaudry was beaten by Driussi on the PK.

Colorado needed some time to raise their intensity and composure. The press gradually got better and created an equalizer in the 42nd minute. Lalas Abubakar pressed Driussi at midfield. That led to a turnover which Rafael Navarro pounced on. He dribbled forward between the defenders and picked out the far bottom corner. The half ended 1-1.

The second half opened up with both teams taking risks to win the game. Austin were the better side in the opening 20 minutes. Adam Beaudry made the save of the game in the 54th off a great chance at the near post for Rubio.

Colorado grew as the half went along. They looked to win it in the 75th minute when Navarro found Omir Fernandez in transition to draw a penalty. Fernandez scored the PK for his first league goal since July, sending Stuver the wrong way.

Colorado tried to hold on as Houston Dynamo and Minnesota United were both leading their games. A calamitous six minutes of stoppage time followed. Substitute Ethan Finlay scored on an unchallenged header, wide open in the box in the 91st. Abubakar had been subbed off at halftime with concerns over yellow card accumulation. He split then center backs Andreas Maxsø and Keegan Rosenberry.

Two minutes later, Brendan Hines-Ike beat Maxsø on a near-post to make it 3-2. Austin swarmed Colorado and they just couldn’t hold on or match the energy to see out the game.

Elsewhere, Houston conceded a penalty to LA Galaxy to make it 1-1 but comeback to win the game 2-1. Minnesota rolled St. Louis. LAFC conceded first to San Jose but won 3-1, to jump LA Galaxy. With that, Colorado fell to seventh. They will play second seed LA Galaxy in the Round of 16.

“We’re excited for the matchup. Big test. Our guys will have big confidence going into it knowing that twice we were in good games with them,” Armas said of the match up.

Djordje Mihailović ankle sprain:

Armas confirmed the medical staff believe it is an ankle sprain. Further evaluation will be done Sunday and next week. There was no further update. The Rapids No. 10 was seen on the sideline with ice on his right ankle and with crutches. It’s hard to believe he’ll be 100% for the first round of the playoffs.

His absence or limited availability would be a massive blow to the Rapids playoff hopes. He’s the best midfielder and attacker on the team. He has a club record 25 goal contributions on the 60 goals they scored in league play. He’s the primary server for Navarro. He takes the free kicks. They will be even smaller underdogs to LA Galaxy if he is out.

Four straight losses going into playoffs:

It’s been a bad string of results for Colorado. Four losses in a row and five losses in six to end the year. That one win was against a bad Toronto FC team. There’s a theme to the goals they have conceded. Regardless of the good enough 91 minutes they played tonight, it was a bad Decision Day for them. They lost. Dropped in the standings. If it wasn’t for Houston, they’d be staring down a nightmare matchup with LAFC.

This team is out of opportunities to get it right. Good performances are great. The playoffs are about results. They need healthy and recovered bodies if they’re going to challenge LA Galaxy.

“What that locker room wanted most of all tonight is a performance that takes you into the playoffs. To show up in a way different from the last few road games. I think we got that for 91 minutes. When you think about how it played out, it’s difficult. We didn’t reward ourselves. We’ll take many things from it into the playoffs,” Armas told Burgundy Wave.

“There’s no hiding it. We’re disappointed with that last stretch of the season. Sour taste in our mouths with the way we conceded late. We were really close. We can see the game out going forward,” added Rosenberry.

Adam Beaudry’s debut:

On a lighter note, Adam Beaudry showed his stuff in his debut. He was thrown into the deep end with the penalty. He made some big saves. He didn’t look like a deer in headlights at any point. None of the three goals conceded were his fault. Also Cabral subbed in during the 66th and looked himself.

“He’s deserved this. He trains really well. He keeps himself ready when his chance comes. Looked the part. Plenty more to come. He’s very mature in a soccer sense for his age,” Rosenberry said of the 18-year-old Beaudry.

Photo Credit: John Babiak

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