Slump Busters: Colorado Rapids Lose to Austin With Rafael Navarro Own Goal

Commerce City – Well a good week of training and a bunch of shots amounted to little for Colorado Rapids on Saturday night against Austin FC. Who had a Rafael Navarro own goal on their bingo card? Let us know in the comments.

Chris Armas made just two changes from the team that played 10 days prior at Portland. Rafael Navarro was back from his ankle injury at striker. Chido Awaziem started at center back. That moved Darren Yapi and Ian Murphy to the bench. Djordje Mihailović’s hamstring was fine so he started as well in the 4-2-3-1. Nico Hansen was in goal with Zack Steffen out with a knee injury from USMNT camp.

There were no big surprises for Nico Estevez and Austin FC. Brandon Vazquez was up top. Owen Wolf was in midfield. Former Rapids maestro Diego Rubio was on the bench.

The Verde visitors had a fantastic start, scoring in the 6th minute. Osman Bukari had acres of space on the nearside. The Rapids defense was slow to track back. He put a cross into the box that Hansen dealt with. Dani Pereira made a late run into the box. Bukari found him and he blasted the ball off Mikkel Desler and in.

Austin had several other chances in the opening 20. The best chance was a Vazquez shot on a counter attack after a Rapids corner that Hansen saved.

Colorado woke up on the hour mark. Navarro’s pressing led to Ted Ku-DiPietro being 1-v-1 with Brad Stuver but Saint Stuver made the save. Navarro had a header. Jackson Travis made a great run in the 35th taking a touch around the defense. He tried to get to KDP at the near post but he just missed on the shot.

Other than that sequence, Travis had a poor half. Bukari beat him several times. Travis took a yellow card fouling him in the 40th. The half ended 0-1.

The second half was more balanced with fewer swings in momentum. Wolff had a great free kick in the 52nd that was saved over the bar by Hansen. Colorado had a great sequence in the 55th but overcomplicated things as Navarro then Mihailović chose to pass when they could have shot. Larraz had his shot blocked.

Things got worse for the Burgundy Boys in the 66th. Brandon Hines-Ike appeared to head in a corner. MLS box score ruled it as an own goal on Navarro. He and substitute Calvin Harris both challenged for the ball. Navarro was doing zonal marking. Replay showed the ball went off the back of Navarros’ head.

Harris then had a break in the 70th but Stuver came off his line to cut off the angle and save it. The Rapids lost 0-2 and never looked like they were threatening a comeback.

The two goals were concerning.

That first Austin goal was preventable at multiple junctures. Travis tracking back. The backline spacing. The midfielders picking up the late run. Hansen’s placement of the rebound. This team is still vulnerable on counter attacks. Including from their rest defense. Austin mimicked Portland in several ways. Once they won the ball back, there was too much space. It was too easy to play into that space, relieve pressure, and create quality chances.

Chris Sharpe must be pulling his hair out after that second goal on a corner. Even if it weren’t a Rafael Navarro own goal, it was poor marking.

These are the types of goals Colorado focuses on preventing.

“Maybe 6 out of 10. We could have started much better, on the front foot, trying to take risks. If we’re on the front foot, maybe we don’t concede there,” said Ku-DiPietro.

“We got in the right spots. We created enough chances. It’s a game of inches. We just didn’t put the ball in the back of the net. They punished us in a few moments. We’ve got to be better defensively. It’s a disappointing night all around. It’s just one of those nights,” said Cannon.

The performance was poor. Is this team in a slump?

There’s been 9 games since that fantastic with against San Diego with the debut of the 4-4-2. In those 9 games, they have 2 wins against struggling teams, 2 draws, and 5 losses. There have been injuries to all the key players in that stretch. They gave Austin their first win since April 19. When things go poorly, who’s stepped up to be a part of the solution? Mihailović and Steffen are the only two who come to mind.

As good as Hansen has been, they’re conceding goals (see above). They did have a bunch of shots, 19, with 5 on goal. FotMob had 1.60 xG to Austin’s 2.01 on 11 attempts. They were in good areas, but shots were easily blocked. Stuver did make some good saves.

The team has been passive at times. Other than KDP, none of the wingers are goal dangerous. If Mihailović isn’t cooking, it’s hard for them to make opponents uncomfortable. Navarro needs service. No Cole Bassett hurt. Sam Bassett is not yet a creative force. Andreas Maxsø got into it with Alan Chapman who wasn’t suffering fools.

The defense is porous enough that margins are thin. Those 19 shots look worse when half of them were with a defender right there to block the shot. On another night, they could have scored three. But these are points dropped that cost you a higher seed, which this team needs.

“I think I should shoot more. I should be more selfish,” said Ku-DiPietro.

“There’s 3-4 big chances created. We’re trying to get that clear path to goal. Is it one pass too many? Is it nearly perfect? I don’t know. I like that guys were sticking to the principles in and around goal. I give Austin credit. They were blocking shots. The goals are going to come for our team,” said Armas.

Jackson Travis struggled.

Travis had his first real stinker since taking the starting left back spot from Sam Vines. His positioning left Bukari open and Awaziem had to deal with that. Took a yellow card in frustration. He had one good moment in the attack. But it was just too easy to attack his flank.

“I spoke to him. He just needs to be more focused and more connected to the defense. He’s going to be really good. He’s confident on the ball. There were a lot of balls behind that I had to go cover (for him). He’s going to get better,” said Awaziem of Travis.

On a lighter note:

This game was Pride Night. That was fun for the LGBTQIA Community.

The weather was really nice. Fitting given legendary local weather man Chris Bianchi was at the game.

There was a Rapids season ticket member who’s a Columbus native who showed up #SaveTheCrew.

Seeing Diego Rubio again was fun, given he wasn’t the reason Austin won the game.

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken

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