Darren Yapi Dancing Hour: Colorado Rapids beat St. Louis in the Rain

Commerce City – Rain, rain, go away, come again another day. Colorado Weather did its thing on Saturday night as the Rapids hosted St. Louis City. Fortunately, so did backup striker Darren Yapu.

Chris Armas had some decisions to make with the lineup given injuries. Zack Steffen was out again with an oblique so Nico Hansen was in goal. Cole Bassett suffered an ankle injury so younger brother Sam Bassett made his first MLS start on the wing. Colorado stuck with the 4-2-3-1 after last weekend’s result. Rafael Navarro was still out with his ankle injury, so Darren Yapi started up top. Chido Awaziem was out with a family matter so Ian Murphy started at center back. Keegan Rosenberry was out as his wife gave birth to baby Booker, who’s been coined the Rosenbaby.

The start of the match had a quick buzz kill. Rain came down shortly after kickoff. After 7 minutes, the female referee crew led by Tory Penso blew her whistle to delay the match for lightning.

The match resumed at 9:17 p.m. MT after about a 1 hour 45 minute delay. The first real chance of the game came to captain Djordje Mihailović. After some good build up, he spun around and shot but the ball went wide. In the 36th minute, Cedric Teuchert was played in on goal for a break away. Hansen came off his line and made a great save.

On the 41st minute, Colorado pinged the ball around the box. Eventually it came to Ku-DiPietro who threaded the ball into the box. Yapi took a touch to it with Djordje Mihailović set up for the one timer. Yapi snuck the ball into the bottom corner past Roman Bürki. The half ended 1-0.

The second half was a bit of a mash pit given the conditions. The rain lighted up, but it was still there. There were not 2,000 butts in seat despite an announced attendance of 15,109. Yapi had a chance. So did KDP. Marcel Hartel was lively for CITY. In the 65th minute, he dribbled up the middle with the Rapids defense backing off. He shot from Zone 14 but sent the ball over the bar with Hansen jumping for it. Not much else happened in the 90 minutes given the conditions, other than a free kick chance for Andreas Maxsø that he missed from a sharp angle that was wide.

Colorado held on to win the match 1-0.

“To our fans that stuck around, that’s helpful for our guys. It’s not easy when there’s a delay. Proud of the way the guys played with intensity. The shutout’s important. It’s an emphasis for us this year. Nico Hansen, second one. It’s noteworthy,” Armas told Burgundy Wave.

Darren Yapi Dancing Hour:

What a two months for since April 12 vs San Diego. He’s started up top as a second striker and as the No. 9. He’s pressed well and gotten stuck in. His hold up play has gotten better. For all the criticism of his play in 2023, he did well last year. Now, he’s holding things down when Navarro has been out.

“I’m really happy for him. I don’t know if they’re saying ‘Yapi Hour.’ What’s going on back there? He battled. Really important in our structure defending. He keeps showing maturity at a fast pace. He’ll help us keep wining games. His previous high was 2 goals in a season. He’s got 3. He’ll remind everybody of this,” Armas said of the 20-year-old.

Three goals in 11 appearances, two of those in win. He looks the part. He is a viable striker in this league, regardless of Navarro’s status. It’s amazing how much he’s grown since this time last year when he still didn’t have a first team goal. And to do it against St. Louis, who he scored his first MLS goal last year in July!

“For me, it’s just going back to the basics. Playing with intensity. The details. The guys around me help me. Once I got the touch off, I had one thing on mind, to shoot. It went in. I’m happy. Everything’s falling in for me. I have to keep going,” Yapi said.

Sam Bassett and Ted Ku-DiPietro First Start:

Sam Bassett and Ted Ku-DiPietro got their first MLS starts with the Rapids in this game. It was a return to the 4-2-3-1, which suited both players. Ku got to play drive with the ball and go for goal. Bassett got to do some No. 10 stuff and run off the ball. Ku got the assist, something Kévin Cabral has not done yet this year. It was good to see. Hopefully both can build on this.

“I’ve played in so many big games over the year, it’s just another game. I felt good. When we were warming up, one of the guys was like, ‘Of course your first start is going to be a delay.’ Right as we get out there, delay. It was alright. I like the rain. I’ve experienced so many delays of watching (Cole) in delays. He (Cole) was ready to get home after the game,” Sam said with a smile.

Rain, Rain, Go Away:

Thank goodness this game finished on the night. Rapids fans and players surely had triggering flashbacks to 2023 in which seven games were delayed due to weather. Even the Apple TV broadcast brought up before the second half started. For the all the rain and lightning, the field seemed to hold up. Not many soggy water logged parts of the pitch. It played relatively slick though the players were slow in their movement. Advantage to the team that scored first.

The team did a bit of everything. Some players hydrated. A few had PB&Js. Sam Bassett enjoyed listening to Morgan Wallen.

“In USL, we had a couple bad (weather delays), when I played for Loudon. We lost the one game that we did this, we played the 50 states game from Friends. Our heads were gone after that. I don’t like to go on my phone during that time,” Ku joked about the rain delay.

Lastly, congratulations to Keegan and Saint Rosenberry on the birth of Booker, the Rosenbaby.

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken

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