Raining Goals and Dogs! Rapids Beat Charlotte With ‘Corgi’ Mihailović Late Brace

COMMERCE CITY – Who let the Pids out?! Colorado Rapids hosted Charlotte FC on Saturday afternoon. The Burgundy Boys bounced back after a tough game last week. Fittingly, it was Bark at the Park and they showed they got that dawg in them.

Chris Armas had one change from last week. Reggie Cannon was out with a groin injury and Sam Vines was questionable so Ian Murphy started at left back. It was the usual three man midfield. Zack Steffen started with Adam Beaudry on the bench even though Nicolas Hansen was called up.

For Charlotte, the big stars were in. Tim Ream and Patrick Agyemang started back from national team duty. In form Pep Biel was up top as well with Wilfried Zaha. Goalkeeper of the Year Kristijan Kahlina was in goal.

The first half was very similar to last week against Portland, but scoreless. Possession was 50/50. Colorado were slower in build up play but the decision making was mixed. Both teams struggled to Rafael Navarro had a great look in the 17th minute off the press. Colorado won the ball back just outside the box. Navarro ran in and shot right at the keeper.

Djordje Mihailović had a curling shot from just outside the box late in the half. It had PS xG of 0.48. Kahlina made a fantastic save.

Charlotte went direct and wide when they got the ball. Their best opportunity might have been in the 21st minute. Zaha got in behind and crossed the ball at the goal line. The ball went through the box without a touch and was cleared. The half ended 0-0 with Chido Awaziem on a yellow card.

The second half continued at a similar pace. Oli Larraz had a great chance minutes into the half. On 52 minutes, Steffen made a great save on national team teammate Patrick Ageymang. His shot was headed for the far bottom corner.

Starting in the 63rd minute, Colorado had five shots blocked in two minutes. Josh Atencio had the best chance inside the penalty spot. This game appeared headed for 0-0 until the 78th minute. Mihailović found space in the box. Substitute Omir Fernandez delivered a perfect pass for a first-touch tap-in.

Colorado would put the game away seconds later. Navarro chased down a through ball from Mihalović. He got a step on center back Adilson Malanda. The race to the ball got physical with Navarro being taken down from behind. Alan Chapman called a penalty which Mihailović dispatched, sending Kahlina the wrong way.

Colorado saw out the game despite rain in the final 10 minutes. The match ended 2-0.

“Today was a really good reaction from our team after the last game. It was mature. We’d been looking for that performance. It might have been our best performance since Leagues Cup last year. Physically, we were up for it. Tactically we were smart. Principally, we stuck to who we are. We met the demands,” Armas said in his opening statement at the press conference.

Containing the Charlotte Attack:

Charlotte’s a good attacking team. Both sides got into good areas but Colorado snuffed those out better than the visitors. Shots were 22-10 Colorado with shots on goal 6-3. That’s the worst game I’ve seen Wilfried Zaha play. Pep Biel was quiet. Second game Murphy had to play at left back against a tough winger matchup and he went unnoticed because nothing bad happened.

“Defensively we were great tonight. We did a good job of containing Zaha. We always double teamed him. Our rest defense and defending in transition was great,” said Josh Atencio.

Agyemang created space at time but he was quickly met with a defender. He had Charlotte’s best chance of the game. Steffen made the save when he needed to.

“He’s a handful. Maxsø and Chido worked together. He had one chance really. The guys were class. It’s not easy for (Ian Murphy), a center back playing out wide. Proud of him the way he adapts and plays the role,” Steffen said.

“We have in my opinion the best goalie in the league. In front of him a back line and ten total (field) players that are going to defend our butts off to block the goal. It’s about winning our man-to-man duels,” Mihailović added.

The Offense Sticks to its Principals. It Paid off:

The team grew into the game offensively. The end to the first half and start of the second half were much better. They turned good opportunities or coincidences into scoring chances. That was an improvement from last week. With 20 minutes to go, it was just a matter of whether they’d finish or not. Fernandez made a good pass to set up Mihailović. Mihailović set up Navarro to draw the penalty.

“We have to give our attacking players some freedom. Happy we can score two goals and keep a clean sheet. Expression with me and Calvin coming in, allowing us to go 1-on-1. Hopefully with some more sharpness from us hopefully we can score more than two goals,” said Fernandez.

Djordje scored two goals in a season-defining 3-2 win over LAFC last year. That was 364 days ago. It was fitting. The next step will be for more balanced scoring from the rest of the attackers. But this team proved last year if everyone does their job and two guys step up when it counts, they will beat great teams.

“If everyday was a game day, I’d be Messi. We finally get a win at home. You can see a bit of frustration last game. You can see what we’re trying to do. We stick to the plan. That’s what gets us the win. The coaches speak about ramping it up when we need to. We love to put teams in fast games here. High temp press. Finishing our chances,” Mihalović told Burgundy Wave.

Who Let the Dogs Out?!

Bark at the Park was a rousing success. Everyone was committed to the bit at this game. C38 barked during at least a few stoppages. The video board showed dogs wearing Rapids bandanas and scarves throughout the game. We were making puns. Corgi Mihailović. Ruffael Navarro. Bassett Hound.

You could hear barking (from actual dogs, not people) throughout the game. It was a good atmosphere. Attendance was 15,211 humans and 269 dogs. The weather was great till the 80th minute. Then it was raining goals and dogs.

The Rapids had that dog in them. Late in the first half, Zaha was upset at a stoppage and talked himself into a yellow card. Charlotte manager Dean Smith started yapping at the fourth official. Chris Armas gave some back. They both got carded. There were further words at the full time hand shake. Colorado was up for it unlike Zaha maybe, who was double teamed most of the game.

Shout out to Neymar:

Armas took a moment postgame to discuss Neymar, a kid who has been diagnosed with Leukemia, who has been around the team and been a source of inspiration for them.

“He popped up at training with his dad. They brought half our staff to tears. 8-9 years old. He’s telling the guys that they have to win. You wouldn’t believe the inspiration our boys have given him and that he gives our team. I saw him tonight after the game and he was it tears. Our job around here is to inspire our community. That team makes me proud that they do that. Maybe he changes their lives and mine.”

“What a brave kid. The mental strength that him and his family have is a perspective that we can look upon. To have a young kind kid and his family come into training and give us perspective that football’s not everything. I hugged him after the game today and he was crying,” Steffen added.

Get well Neymar.