Colorado frustrated, outplayed in 3-0 defeat on the road at LA Galaxy

Carson, California — It was a disappointing night for the Colorado Rapids, who failed to capitalize on other results falling the Rapids’ way in their 3-0 loss to a heavily rotated LA Galaxy team Saturday night at Dignity Health Sports Park.

In what had to be a must-win with all things considered, the Rapids had one of their worst performance of the season. It was a debut match for three Rapids players: Paxten Aaronson, Rafael Santos, and Daouda Amadou. They could not help a Rapids side that looked second best for large stretches.

The Rapids went back to a 4-4-2 against the Galaxy. There was one change from last weekend’s win against Atlanta United. The extra center back of Ian Murphy made way for winger Ted Ku-DiPietro. On Saturday, the formation changed to a 4-2-3-1 once Paxten Aaronson came on, which is the look I would expect to see a lot more of once Paxten is ready and available to start.

LA Galaxy brought out a heavily rotated squad. The big three of Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil, and Marco Reus started the game on the bench due to Galaxy reaching the semifinals of Leagues Cup. It lasted 60 minutes, as the Galaxy were able to see out the result with their stars on the field.

It was a disastrous start for the Rapids, who found themselves 1-0 down just six minutes in. LA found space through Miki Yamane on the wing. His cut-back ball found the foot of youngster Harbor Miller, who slotted home. It was a bad look for both Cole Bassett and Oli Larraz, who were lost on the play. In a match where Colorado should comfortably get the result, they would have to claw their way back into this one.

It did not happen in the first half. After an awful first 15 minutes or so from the Rapids, they started to press forward. The last 30 minutes looked better for Colorado, who were better in possession and pressing, keeping the game in LA’s half. Despite this, Colorado was not dangerous in front of goal. The Rapids only amounted to 0.09 expected goals at half-time. Their closest shot from the LA net was about 25 yards away, taken from Ku-Dipetro. LA had the most dangerous chance after the goal.

A similar play to the goal happened just moments from the second-half whistle. A Galaxy cutback found the other youngster winger Tucker Lepley, who fired just wide.

It only got worse for Colorado in the second half. It took LA only ten minutes to pour the misery on. Elijah Wynder had a goal very similar to the first Galaxy goal. LA combined out wide and found the space between the backline and the double pivot of Colorado in the Rapids’ box. Yamine sent a low-driven ball into the box and Wynder made no mistake as he fired home his one-touch shot. It was another play where Bassett and Larraz lost their man and it led to a goal.

After the second goal, both teams went to their bench. Colorado went to Paxten Aaronson for his debut with the club. LA put on their big three of Pec, Paintsil, and Reus. It paid dividends for the home side. A Gabriel Pec counterattack added a third for the hosts in the 75th minute to put the game to bed.

Chances were far and few between for the Rapids, who were thoroughly outworked and outplayed on the night. For a team that is on the playoff line, fighting to keep their head above water, it was an embarrassing showing. This was a must-win, a result that you had to get, all things considered. Not only did the team not get the three points against a far weaker side, but they were far worse than the backups of the last-place team in the league.

The only good thing to come from the night was the debut of Paxten Aaronson, Rafael Santos, and Daouda Amadou. They all had some good moments in their first Rapid minutes.

“It’s a game that we’ll learn from,” Rapids head coach Chris Armas told the media after the game.
“Just because you are coming with a couple of wins, you have to still earn it and step on the pitch ready to play. And I’d say from the start of the game all the way through, we just didn’t bring our all, which is disappointing.”

Struggles Against a Rotated Lineup

With a Leagues Cup semifinal appearance for the LA Galaxy next Wednesday, the hosts rotated their lineup to give the starters adequate rest before the tie. This looked to give Colorado a great chance to take three points from a rotated Galaxy side. It did not pan out that way, as Colorado was second-best throughout. Chris Armas talked about the danger of a rotated lineup, telling the media, “They’re able to finish the game really strong. On the night, it made them even more energetic than they normally are. Which you can see from the beginning as a lot of guys for the Galaxy were hungry.”

It is a different beast to prepare for a match with an opposition that is playing some players who haven’t seen much of the field this season. Rapids defender Reggie Cannon says the team was aware of the potential rotation for LA. He told Burgundy Wave, “I wouldn’t say it was more difficult. It’s just a different game than we were expecting. We kind of figured they weren’t going to put as strong a lineup out there. Considering they have a big, big game next Wednesday.”

“I just think we kind of gave them the game. We made mistakes that definitely cost us in the end. It was just frustrating tonight,” Reggie Cannon told the media. Tonight, LA Galaxy were able to gut punch the Rapids in a similar way that Colorado did to Cruz Azul when the Rapids played a team of backups in the Leagues Cup closer. Backups or not, Colorado missed a great opportunity to climb the table, and the team will have to move on quickly to face Sporting KC next weekend.

Three Debuts in Burgundy

It was a night where not a lot of positives could be taken away, but one good thing for the Rapids was the debuts of three players, two new additions, and a first appearance for a Rapids 2 player. Rafa Santos, Paxten Aaronson, and Daouda Amadou all got their first minutes with the Rapids first team tonight. Chris Armas was happy to see these guys get some important minutes.

“It was good to see Daouda get his first minutes,” Armas said. “I thought he did a nice job when he came on, comfortable, but he did the job as a holding midfielder, and he broke up a few plays, progressed the ball. Thought he looked confident.”

“It’s also good to see Rafa Santos up there in his first minutes, as well as Paxton Aaronson,” Armas continued. “So you know, it’s important that those guys get some minutes under their belts and help us to make decisions. The visa process has kept both Rob Holding and Alexis Manyoma from making their first appearance this season, with Holding only recently getting his visa and not making an appearance off the bench in LA. Manyoma has yet to get his.

Reggie Cannon is optimistic about how the new additions are meshing with the team. He told the media, “We have a lot of new additions that we brought into the team that we’re trying to get acclimated. We’re heading in the right direction.” It was a hectic transfer window for the Rapids. The team broke the records for both incoming and outgoing transfers in one window. Some growing pains are expected. The new guys had some good moments, with Paxten hitting the post in added time. Just inches from opening up his account in Burgundy.

Colorado’s Inability to Sweep a Team

This was a great opportunity for the Rapids to break two ducks that the team has had this season. The Rapids have yet to win three straight games, and they have yet to sweep a team. Colorado came into this game with the opportunity to do both. With the Rapids winning the home matchup with LA and coming into the game on a two-game winning streak. The loss made sure both are still a problem in Colorado.

Chris Armas was dismissive of the team’s inability to best a team both home and away, telling Burgundy Wave, “We beat the Galaxy at home. They beat us in their building. Not sure. You know it’s not easy to win in this league. We’re in seventh place. That means we’ve done enough good things this year.”

Colorado will have two more opportunities to sweep a team this year: Minnesota at home and RSL away.

Another Switch in Formation

Colorado has had the flexibility to perform well in multiple formations this season, and Chris Armas looked to move from the 5-2-3 in this match, opting for a 4-4-2. However, when asked why they switched from the 5-2-3 formation, Armas told the media, “The 4-2-4 won us the game last week. So, the three in the back, we weren’t as sharp in it last game. We changed at halftime last game, and that sparked press, sparked energetic football. It gives us an extra attacker on the pitch to go after LA.”

“We can change formations. We have tactical flexibility to do that, but tonight was more about the way we played, more than any structure, the basics lost, and keeping the ball being sharper with the ball, decision making, box defending second balls, intensity, that’s what it’s always about. Those are principles,” Armas told the media.

Colorado seemed to go to a 4-2-3-1 once Paxten Aaronson checked into the game, which would not be a surprise if the team opts to play in that formation for the final seven games of the season. It will be interesting to see what Armas will do once all of the summer signings are available and ready to start for the ‘Pids.

Colorado will look to bounce back when they will play at Sporting Kansas City on August 30th at 6:30 pm MT.

Photo Credit: Spencer Baldwin

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