Carson, California – In a true dead rubber matchup between already eliminated Colorado Rapids and Cruz Azul, Colorado was able to field a team consisting mostly of backups and still get a result against a close to full-strength Cruz Azul side. La Máquina ended up with the extra point in a shootout win after a 2-2 draw, but Colorado can keep their heads high after their youngsters were able to get a result against a top Liga MX side.
Colorado made multiple changes due to the nature of the match. Rafa Navarro, Cole Bassett, Andreas Maxsø, and Reggie Cannon all started, but were subbed off to start the second half. It was an opportunity for many Rapids 2 guys to get some important minutes, and it was a debut for Sydney Wathuta and Noah Cobb. Sam Bassett, Alex Harris, and Nico Hansen went the full ninety, getting some rare minutes with the first team.
Unlike Colorado, Cruz Azul did not play their reserves. It was a mostly starting eleven that only got stronger throughout the night with substitutions.
It did not take long for Colorado to get on the scoresheet. Cruz Azul goalkeeper Kevin Mier hit his goal kick straight to Rapid debutant Sydney Wathuta, and the youngster found Rafa Navarro on the top of the box. The Brazilian picks out the right corner, and the Rapids go up one in just two minutes.
Colorado continued to push as Alex Harris did well out wide to free himself down the wing. He drives the ball into the box and tries to find the bottom corner, but Kevin Mier is there. The ball falls to Sydney Wathuta, who has an open goal to finish. He goes for power over precision, and hits the bar. A moment that has some similarities to Sam Bassett against Portland. It was a great opportunity to open his Burgundy account that was missed.
It did not take long for Cruz Azul to have a similar chance. A hopeful ball into the box is poorly cleared by Andreas Maxsø. No one in a Rapids jersey reacts to the loose ball in the six-yard box. Cruz Azul reacts first, but Nico Hansen makes two incredible saves back to back to keep Colorado ahead.
It was Colorado who struck next, as Alex Harris won a free kick in a dangerous area. Cole Bassett loops the ball back post, and Maxsø powers his way to the ball. The center back gets a foot on it, and the ball finds the bottom corner to make it 2-0 to Colorado with minutes left in the first half.
Unfortunately for Colorado, Cruz Azul did not take long to respond. Center back Willer Ditta found space 25 yards out from the net and decided to have a shot. It deflects off of Wayne Frederick, wrongfoots Nico Hansen, and finds its way into the back of the net. An unfortunate own goal from Frederick, and now Colorado went into halftime only up by one.
The second half was all Cruz Azul. They thought they had gotten the equalizer in the 62nd minute after a cross caused chaos, including bouncing between the post and Sam Vines. The ball crosses the line, but the flag went up for an offside.
Although Cruz Azul was dominant throughout, Colorado had a great chance to double their lead through Yapi. The striker has good hold-up play, which allows a pass to Wathuta into space. Wathuta plays a great ball across the box. But Yapi cannot get the right connection on it in the six-yard box, and the shot goes wide. This came back to bite Colorado, as just moments later, Cruz Azul scored a wonder goal off a volley to equalise.
Throughout the second half, but especially after the second Cruz Azul goal, it was the Nico Hansen show. Multiple important saves, as well as a double save, kept the game level after ninety minutes.
Unfortunately, Hansen could not continue the heroics in the penalty shootout. Cruz Azul went 5/5 from the spot to win the extra point. Only Oli Larraz missed his penalty in the shootout. “Really good first half, and then take some pressure in the second half. But what an impressive group of men. That really signifies the team,” Chris Armas told the media.
Which Youngsters Stepped Up?
Colorado leaned on their youth in this match, relying on guys like Sydney Wathuta, Sam Bassett, Alex Harris, Nico Hansen, and Noah Cobb to play the full ninety minutes. “What a group of young men… I talked about them being very uncommon, and a team that sticks together. You saw it tonight, a really good example of what a real team looks like, a team that doesn’t really break,” Armas said.
“Nico Hansen has really stepped up. Had a great game tonight. That was clear… And tonight, Sydney really stepped up. I think Alex Harris, as well, had a big night,” Chris Armas told the media. Hansen continued to impress in the net with ten saves on the night. Sydney Wathuta was good in his debut, but would like his strike against the bar back, however. It was a first start for Alex Harris, who was impressive on the wing for Colorado.
Noah Cobb also got his first start in Colorado, as the 20-year-old center back looked solid in his debut. Chris Armas said, “Noah Cobb could just turn 20 years old, played with intensity on the back line, looks like, for me, a guy beyond his years. So yeah, those are some highlights there, and I think that gives us some really good information on how we can use the roster moving forward for the remainder of the year.”
What Can the Team Takeaway From Leagues Cup?
Despite not advancing to phase two in the new Leagues Cup format, Chris Armas believes that the team benefited from the tournament. Armas told the media, “Look, these games are just so important for us. It does make us better, hopefully, and maybe obviously these this will make us better for the final push in the playoffs.”
“These games are so valuable for what’s ahead in these last nine games. Think about the next one in Minnesota. None of them gets easier. We finished the year at home against LAFC. But in between that, there’s a Rocky Mountain Cup on the line, and these pressure situations, guys stepping up for penalties, facing this type of opposition, tremendous,” Chris Armas said.
Leagues Cup gave Colorado the opportunity to see some young guys get minutes, while simultaneously keeping the squad sharp and ready for the push for playoffs in the last nine games of the season.
Thoughts On Djordje’s Departure
The big question on everyone’s mind has to be the recent departure of star player Djordje Mihailović. When asked about Djordje’s departure, Armas was frank in his response, saying, “He [Djordje] had a big opportunity to move on to Toronto… and it’s an opportunity for the club to also benefit.
“I think the best way to put it is the Colorado Rapids are a better club for his time here, and I think that he’s probably a better player and person for his time here. And wish him well, he’s such an amazing person and player.” Armas believes the team can gain from the loss of their star playmaker, while also acknowledging the pitfalls of losing a top guy midway through the season.
“But this happens in our sport. It happens in many sports, but it was, you know, a big club comes in and a big offer,” Chris Armas told Burgundy Wave. It will be crucial for the team to adapt to life without their number ten after Djordje’s departure to Toronto.
Who Takes Set Pieces Without Djordje?
Without the usual set-piece taker, Djordje Mihailović, it is a question mark on who steps up for Colorado. Against Cruz Azul, Cole Bassett took the set pieces, even getting an assist to Maxsø on a long free kick. After Cole stepped off at halftime, Oli Larraz took over the set pieces in the second half. When Burdgundy Wave asked Armas about set pieces without Djordje, he said, “You can expect, you know, one of those guys (Cole and Oli) to be taking set pieces.”
“We actually went into the night saying it’s almost like a little trial. You know, who’s going to grab it, who’s going to deliver, with the precision, stick to the execution of what we’re looking for. Both guys actually put in some dangerous balls. Cole helps us get the goal.”
While Chris Armas didn’t nail down a set piece taker, he did say, “But Cole Bassett is the guy likely to be on it.” With the assist against Cruz Azul, Cole did nothing but good in his case to be the main guy on set pieces without Djordje.
Photo Credit: John Babiak
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