Commerce City, Colorado – The Rapids were on the wrong side of the result at home for the second straight match in a row. It has been five consecutive halves without a goal for the Rapids, who have lost two straight home matches for the first time this season. An early goal from Martin Ojeda was enough to sink Colorado, which has lost three straight.
The Rapids shied away from the 4-2-3-1 for this match, opting to go back to the 4-2-2-2 with both Yapi and Rafa healthy and available. The backline also featured Vines and Murphy, lining up an unusual back four without either Awaziem or Travis. Ted Ku-DiPietro made his fourth consecutive start for the Rapids.
Orlando continued with their 4-4-2 look, with Martin Ojeda and Luis Muriel leading the line against the Lions. There were no surprises from the lineup, as Orlando was without their standout right back, Alex Freeman, due to international duty.
The game started out in Orlando’s favor. Two Oli Larraz giveaways in the midfield led to two early chances for the visitors. One led to a Muriel long shot that went just wide, the other was a Pasalic shot that found the outside of the side netting. Although they didn’t amount to much, it was nervy early moments for the Rapids, who looked to be vulnerable on the counter.
It was then the Rapids’ turn to have a few chances. A long throw-in in the 13th minute from Reggie Cannon bounced around the box and found Maxso. His shot could not find the back of the net, falling just wide. The Rapids then found some success with Route One, as Nico Hansen hit a long diagonal to Vines, who latched on to the poor clearance from Orlando. His ensuing shot was not great, however, and trickled harmlessly past the post.
It was Orlando City who broke the deadlock, and it was on another giveaway turned counter for the visitors. Rafa looked to be fouled in a 50/50 header, but the referee looked the other way. The play continued, and Orlando found space through Pasalic. Pasalic drove in from the wing and found Martin Ojeda in the box. Ojeda made no mistake, hitting a low shot that snuck under the outstretched arm of Nico Hansen.
The five-minute stretch after the goal was dominated by Orlando, but after that, it was all Colorado. A lot of possession for the hosts from then until halftime, but they could only muster one real chance. A minute before halftime, Oli and Atencio combined and played Mihailovic in a good spot. Djordje took a shot from just outside the eighteen, but it flew just past the post.
Colorado had their chances, but did not convert on any of them before the halftime whistle. It was the second home match in a row that the Rapids found themselves down one after having a pretty decent half. They were likely to find a low block in the second half.
And they did, as Orlando allowed the Rapids to have the ball for most of the second half. Chances came along with it. It started with a good play out wide, which sent Vines down the wing. He found Rafa on his cross, and his header looked destined for the back of the net. Gallese thought otherwise, as he keeper made a great outstretched save to keep Rafa off the scoresheet.
The chances continued as in the 56th minute, there were two shouts for penalties for Colorado. Some good work from the Rapids has Rafa in the box; he gets taken down, but no call. The ball falls to Larraz, and he gets taken down. No call. Both seemed soft from the press box, and the referee didn’t go to VAR.
The next best chance for the Rapids was in the 72nd minute. It was down the left side again, as Vines played a teasing ball that Rafa left for Mihailovic. Inside the box, Mihailovic unleashed a shot that stung the palms of Gallese, but nothing more. It was an unfortunately common occurrence for Mihailovic in the match, and Gallese did end up winning the war.
The final chance was three minutes into the second half of stoppage time. The ball just couldn’t find its way out of the Orlando 18, as shot after shot from Colorado could not get past the Orlando defense. The ball finally fell to Mihailovic, who dinked a ball at the backpost, which found Rafa. Rafa could not find the back of the net, however, as his header was just wide.
It ended up being the final chance of the match, and the Rapids were on the wrong end of a shutout at home for the second match in a row. “Right now, we’re in a tough period where it seems like the margins are so thin and we’re not able to sway things in our favor. And in those tough times, scoring the first goal, it would be so helpful just to give you some breathing room,” said Chris Armas.
Sam Vines Makes a Rare Start:
Vines made his first start since May 14th, when the Rapids traveled to San Diego and lost 2-0. The homegrown has had a tough time this season with injuries and falling out of favor. Chances have come few and far between for the Colorado native, but he has a positive outlook on the challenges he has faced this season.
Sam Vines told the media, “Yeah, obviously it’s been an up-and-down season for the team. I’m just pushing attacking-wise at the end, I bring a lot to the team. Going forward, it’s not my choice. It’s up to the coach who’s going to play. So I just bring as much as much as I can, train hard, and only control what I can control. So obviously, it’s not ideal not to be in the 11, but I’ll push it every week.”
When Mihailovic was pushed out wide, either in a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-2-2, it felt like it was going to enable Vines to return to a more Vinesback style that we saw in 2021. It hasn’t happened this season until this match, and we saw some good moments from both Mihailovic and Vines along that left-hand side.
He told Burgundy Wave, “I’ve been in and out of the team, so it’s difficult to say. I played with Djordje in front of me a few times. It’s nice to play with him. He’s good at finding the open pockets of open spaces. Whoever’s out there, I can figure out a way to play with them. So for me, it’s just about working as a team.”
Attack Stalls in Five Consecutive Halves:
It is now 237 minutes of Rapids soccer since Djordje found the back of the net against Portland. A little over five halves of soccer where the Rapids could not find the back of the net. 180 of those minutes at home, where, despite the chances, the Rapids are dropping valuable points and getting shut out at home.
Chris Armas was frustrated by the result, but was less emotional when it came to the lack of recent goals. He told the media, “The team has been together for quite some time, so what will it take to score the goal? Djordje gets in on Gallese, makes a really good save. Rafa gets a header, and Gallese makes a really good save. So it’s those things that can sway a little, little margins here.”
Vines was also optimistic about the Rapids being able to turn the goalscoring around. He told the media, “That feeling of we’re going to score every single time. We’re kind of just missing that. So I think now, if we get a game where we score multiple goals in a game, I think that’ll shift us going forward.” The Rapids have the chances, but they just haven’t been able to capitalize on them. This will have to change quickly for Chris Armas’ team.
Referee Decisions Not Falling the Way of the Rapids:
Some of the conversations from this game will veer towards the potential refereeing decisions that did not fall the way of the Rapids. The biggest of the concerns for Armas was the play that happened in the 56th minute. Chris Armas mentioned to the media, “There are nights like tonight. We thought there might have been two penalties on one play, Ku-DiPietro in the box, he gets run over. When you look on the replay, we think it’s a penalty. Oli Larraz picks up the same ball, and he gets knocked down.”
Live from the press box, it seemed soft at the time, but on replay, there is a strong case for a foul to be called there. Strong enough for VAR to overturn the on-field decision? That’s debatable, but the referee chose to keep his whistle in his pocket, and the Rapids were left without a penalty after it all.
Another concern over the referee happened on the lone goal of the match. On the play, Chris Armas said, “Rafa heads it and gets knocked over by the center back. We think it’s a foul.” Neither decision fell in the way of the Rapids, and in a game with as little margins as it did, it swung the result to the other side, correct decision or not.
Rapids Lose to Orlando: How Does the Team Right the Ship?
It is now three straight losses, and only two wins from the last ten. These are poor results, and the team is very aware of these issues. When asked what the Rapids need to do in order to get the results back on track, Chris Armas said, “So it’s just that you gotta sway the margins with a nick a set piece, put out fire in transition. So yeah, know that our guys are they’re pushing hard.”
Sam Vines had a similar look at what the team needed to do in order to get the season back on track. He told the media, “I think we need more in the attacking camp to help the team score. You know, we’re in a little bit of a rut, so I think as long as our fullbacks are helping the team get forward and getting the attack, I think we can help change some things.”
The Rapids will have a brief break before returning to action at DICK’s Sporting Goods against the LA Galaxy on June 25th at 7:30 p.m. MT.
Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken
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