First Repeat Opponent of 2025: Rapids San Jose Preview

COMMERCE CITY — The Colorado Rapids return to DICK’s Sporting Goods Park to face their first repeat opponent of 2025 in the San Jose Earthquakes. The Rapids took care of business in the away fixture of this matchup, winning 2-1 at PayPal Park on March 15th. They did not take care of business in their most recent game, losing 2-1 at D.C. United, in a game where Hall of Fame head coach Chris Armas was not present due to technical difficulties on his flight to the nation’s capital. With Chris Armas back at the helm, can the ‘Pids turn around their three-game winless streak? Let’s take a look at the matchup.

When: Saturday, May 10 @ 7:30 p.m. MST

Where: DICK’s Sporting Goods Park

TV/Streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

Disappointing Armas-less Loss at DC:

The Rapids were without their head coach in the loss at United, as the flight that would’ve brought Chris Armas from his Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Dallas to the game was delayed. This meant Armas had to watch his team give away a lead with two first-half stoppage time goals from D.C. virtually. This timeframe, a few minutes before halftime, has been where the Rapids have conceded all but one of their goals in the last three matches. The other goal was scored in second-half stoppage time by Houston.

Before the two first-half stoppage time goals, the Rapids were looking pretty good away from home. The two teams traded early woodwork hits, as Mihailović hit a volley off the post just minutes into the match, and Kijima hit the crossbar just minutes later. A world-class Zack Steffen save denied a worldy from Brandon Servania halfway through the half. The first breakthrough came from the Rapids, who hit on a counter through Rafa Navarro, whose initial shot was saved by Luis Barraza. The rebound fell to the Brazilian, who hit a back-post floater for Darren Yapi to head home. Just minutes from the end of the first half, the Rapids looked to be taking a 1-0 lead into the break.

A couple of injuries from D.C. United players meant that there was a hefty amount of first-half stoppage time, which evidently was all they needed. Two quick goals in the 45+4 and 45+7 minutes by Christian Benteke then Hosei Kijima put the hosts up. Both goals came from deflected crosses into the box, which Chidozie Awaziem and Reggie Cannon took turns not being able to clear the danger. D.C. took the 2-1 lead into half-time, and the Rapids could not change the scoreline in the second half despite 71% of the possession. The Rapids mustered just two shots against a low block from DC, and none on target.

One Win in Their Last Five: Time to Hit the Panic Button?

The short answer is no, losing to Vancouver away is nothing to be worried about. Beating San Diego was impressive, and while dropping points to Houston, D.C., and Seattle were disappointing in their own ways, there is not a lot to take away from those games that would scream that the team should be in panic mode. There are some worrying signs, however, as the trend of conceding at inopportune times is starting to become a habit for the Rapids. But the D.C. game sprouted a new concern for the Burgundy Boys, as they looked inefficient against a low block.

After leading going into the half, United came out with a different look than in the first. They employed a low block to try and see out the result. This worked wonders for the hosts, as while the Rapids had 1.33 expected goals on the night, they were kept to only 0.07 xG on two shots with none on target for the entirety of the second half. The Rapids were also allowed to have possession, with the Rapids having 71% of the ball in the second half, but it felt more like possession without purpose at times for the ‘Pids. The high-flying Rapids attack of the last few weeks was grounded against DC’s low block.

This was not the first time the Rapids had come up against a low block and struggled to create. The biggest example of this was the Portland game at home. Portland had come to DICK’s Sporting Goods Park and had one strategy. They sat back in a low block and hit on the counter. Not only did Portland quiet the Rapids’ attack to only 0.55 expected goals on eight shots and one on target all game, but they were also able to exploit a Rapids team that was forced to push men up the field to try and get something going in the attack. This led to an easy 3-0 drubbing from Portland, who went back to Oregon with all three points and presumably the outline of how to beat the Rapids.

While this is a concerning trend, there is little reason to panic if you are Chris Armas. Something to look into, sure. But the Rapids had also contained United very well in the second half, something that they could not say against Portland. Signs of improvement are good, but the next step would be to find the right buttons to push in order to break down a low block.

Lineup Prediction:

Steffen / Cannon, Maxsø, Awaziem, Travis / Larraz, Ronan, Atencio, Miahailović (C) / Navarro, Yapi

The Rapids are back to only the usual two on the injury report, as Ali Fadal and Adam Beaudry are still out with their respective injuries. Cole Bassett, who Chris Little had said was out against D.C. due to a precaution, has been taken off the injury report. Let’s hope he can make an appearance against San Jose, but I could see him taking a game or two to settle back in after a precautionary absence. San Jose will be missing both Josef Martinez and Bruno Wilson, which will give this Quakes team a different look than the one the Rapids saw in San Jose.

With most of the team back from injury, multiple positions along the two sets of fours in the defense and midfield are up for grabs. Chris Armas has a choice of four outside back options that could start for most MLS teams, with Rosenberry, Vines, Cannon, and Travis all fighting for the two spots on either side of the centerbacks. Armas has opted for the duo of Cannon and Travis as of late, but with Rosenberry and Vines watching on from the bench, the Rapids are covered on the outside of their defense.

A position where the Rapids may not be as covered as they would want to be on the outside of the midfield, as the wide play this year started with the duo of Kévin Cabral and Omir Fernandez, and has morphed into more central playing wide players with Cole Bassett and Djordje Mihailović taking the wider roles. With Bassett out last game, Armas turned to Cabral to fill in that role. While Cabral hasn’t been awful, he hasn’t lived up to the Designated Player tag he has, and he didn’t last Saturday. We have seen Larraz play out wide this season and I see Armas turning towards the homegrown to come in for Bassett.

Revenge Game for San Jose:

San Jose will have a little extra fire coming into this matchup after failing to defend their home turf against the Rapids earlier in the season. The Rapids left San Jose 2-1 winners in the fourth game of the 2025 MLS season. This result gave the Rapids the record for most games unbeaten to start a season in club history, with four matches unbeaten being enough. And it took a herculean effort from Zack Steffen, who had a career high 12 saves against the Californian side, and earned himself a spot in the Team of the Matchday for MLS. Rightfully so, as San Jose had 27 shots, 11 on target, and 2.51 expected goals on the night.

San Jose is a hard team to decipher, as I had high expectations for them after they brought in Bruce Arena and had some smart signings like Chicho Arango to add to their already dangerous-looking attack. But it has been all but perfect for San Jose to start the season, as they sit in 10th place in the Western Conference after some head-scratching results. They followed up a two-game perfect start, including a 4-0 win against RSL, with losses to Minnesota, Colorado, and Charlotte.

After a draw to Seattle, they then went and crushed D.C. United 6-1, and proceeded to lose three straight against LAFC, Columbus, and Sporting KC. Then, like nothing happened, beat a high-flying Portland team 4-1. It will be interesting to see which San Jose team shows up at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

San Jose is a team that has only been shut out once, against Minnesota, and boasts the most goals scored in MLS, 24 in 11 matches. They also give up the fifth-most goals in the league, and are just one goal behind being the worst defense in the Western Conference. Most San Jose matches turn into shootouts, and with the Rapids’ attack flying and the defense shaky, this game very well might follow that trend.

Prediction: The Rapids are able to get back on track and win in a shootout, 3-2.

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken

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