Adam Beaudry Home Debut, Rapids Unbeaten Streak Ruined by Portland Timbers

COMMERCE CITY – All things, good and bad, come to an end. Streaks of a backup goalkeeper not starting a home game. And unbeaten streaks. On Saturday night, Colorado Rapids hosted Rapids killer Antony and boggy team Portland Timbers. It was going ok, until it wasn’t.

There were two changes from the win at San Jose for Chris Armas’ side. Zack Steffen was on national team duty so Adam Beaudry made his first ever home start and second ever MLS appearance. Josh Atencio was back from his groin injury and started in the midfield triple pivot.

For Portland, big money striker Kevin Kelsy was on the bench. Evander replacement David Da Costa started. So did legendary defensive midfielder Diego Chara.

Colorado were the more energetic side to start the game. Fives minutes in, they had their best chance of the first half. Kévin Cabral got into space and crossed the ball into the box. Rafael Navarro hustled and slid to try and get a touch but it was just out of reach. Oli Larraz played well in the midfield on both sides of the ball. They got into good areas, they just didn’t convert that to chances. The final pass was off.

Portland had their moments on the counter. Sani Moreno nearly had a breakaway in the 42nd. Captain Keegan Rosenberry made a recovery run and blocked the shot.

Typical of Timbers-Rapids, Portland bided their time and opened the scoring. In first half stoppage time, David Da Costa danced inside the edge of the box. He delivered a cross in that went off Josh Atencio, like a back heel, and in the far corner of the net. The own goal came with Cabral off the field due to an injury. Adam Beaudry’s clean sheet was muddied, with the score 0-1 at half.

Colorado had a shot on goal moments into the second half but that excitement was quickly squashed. On 48 minutes, Moreno found Brazilian Antony for a run up the middle. There was space as Andreas Maxsø was out of position. He beat Beaudry on a one-touch finish to the bottom corner.

Substitute Kelsy put the match away in the 75th. Jimer Fory delivered a great cross as the striker lost both the center backs on a run. He volleyed it past Beaudry, smashing it into the back of the net. The match ended 0-3.

Unbeaten Streak Ends on Poor Offensive Outing:

Colorado had never started an MLS season unbeaten through four games. The streak didn’t make it to five. This had probably been coming. Colorado won two close games on the road in which they absorbed pressure and lost the xG battle. The team started well, they just couldn’t break down a low block once Portland scored their first goal and got comfortable.

“Myself especially, I haven’t taken control of games this year, set the tone like I did last year. That needs to be a point of emphasis going forward. I go make the team click, making sure we have the right tempo. Right now, it’s all over the place. We’re not in control,” Bassett told Burgundy Wave.

Eight shot attempts, one on goal, 0.54 xG per FotMob. That’s not good enough at home. Cole Bassett still isn’t clicking in possession. They can be Mihailović dependent at times. Larraz didn’t hit some of his passes. Cabral has been wasteful all season. Omir Fernandez or Calvin Harris have to start next week in the afternoon game vs Charotte FC.

“Play fast without rushing. Staying on the ball a little longer. Calming down a little bit. We were antsy,” Armas said postgame.

Sad Cascadia for Atencio. Antony, Rapids Killer:

The three goals were bad but fixable mistakes. The own goal was unlucky. For Atencio to give that up as a former Seattle Sounder has to hurt. And that’s four goals given up in the final five minutes of the first half in five league games.

On the other two goals, Maxsø does a poor job in gap control. Not sure if they didn’t anticipate the play or there was a miscommunication. But that’s two plays where the goal scorer runs between the center backs and has an open look at goal.

“That’s a pissed off locker room. It comes down to decisive moments. They did better than us. We had so many little moments that could turn into chances. We just weren’t sharp enough. The first half in so many ways was good,” Armas told Burgundy Wave.

The second goal was a bad reminder for Rapids fans. Antony scored twice in the season opener last year. In 2024 and 2025, he has 8 goals in 38 appearances for Portland. Four of those have been against the Rapids, across four games. What’s it say about your defense when a winger scores against you every time and rarely against everybody else?

“It sucks. We could have defended that a bit better being down to 10 men at that point, see out the half. It’s unlucky,” said Bassett. “Maybe it’s a few of us leadership wise who could step in and see out halves. Right now it’s back and forth. It’s a learning moment and a wake up call for some of the leaders in the group to step up.”

Adam Beaudry Home Debut: Not his Fault

Losing 0-3 in your home debut as a Colorado native and homegrown goalkeeper isn’t fun. But none of the goals were Beaudry’s fault if you ask me. He maybe could have organized the back line better on the first goal so that situation doesn’t happen. But that’s an unlucky bounce for Atencio.

On the next two, his defense hung him out to dry. Zack Steffen saves the second goal probably but there’s no stopping the third.

He was decent in possession. He cleaned things up when there was a loose ball. He looked far more comfortable than on Decision Day last year, even with the scoreline.

“To be able to play in front of them for the first time was definitely something I’ll be grateful for. Always sucks to lose like that, especially in front of your home crowd,” Beaudry said.

“They’re all supportive. Happy for me. I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else. The message was how we respond to this to get three points next weekend,” the stoic homegrown said of his teammates.

“For us it’s about second balls. In the first half, the reason he got most of those chances was winning second balls. In the second half, they were getting those first. It’s about finding the right mentality and the right headspace, managing that better. I have the utmost praise for Adam,” Reggie Cannon told Burgundy Wave.

Also Darren Yapi made his season debut off the bench coming back from a shoulder injury that limited him in preseason.

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken

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