Rapids Fail to Protect Lead, Lose Big in KC- Rapids vs Sporting KC Recap

Kansas City, Kansas– If you thought the LA loss was bad, it got worse with the Rapids losing to a poor Sporting KC side 4-2. Colorado failed to protect their 2-1 lead going into the second half, after a poor start to the game that saw SKC go up early. It was a disaster of a second half for Colorado, who have now dropped two straight against Western Conference opponents buried deep down the table.

Colorado switched back to a back five after a disappointing performance in a 4-4-2 look against LA Galaxy. It was a first start for Paxten Aaronson, Rafa Santos, and Rob Holding. It was also a rare start for Keegan Rosenberry, who found himself on the scoresheet.

Sporting KC didn’t change much in their lineup, with their attack spearheaded by Dejan Loveljic and Danial Salloi. They started a 17-year-old at center back in Ian James, his fifth appearance in MLS this season.

It was an eerily similar start to the match as the reverse fixture on July 4th. Sporting KC took an early lead through a Dejan Loveljic goal. Colorado were not good at pressing the recycled cross from a corner, and the striker poached an early goal. The Rapids then won a penalty, and missed it, this time from Rafa Navarro. Brendan Aaronson did very well to win the penalty, but went unrewarded after Rafa’s third penalty miss of the season. It was looking like deja vu for Colorado in Kansas.

In between the SKC goal and the penalty, Paxten Aaronson was excruciatingly close to opening up his Burgundy account. The newest Rapids designated player found himself slowing through the Sporting box and got past Pulskamp. With the net seemingly open for the youngster, it was an even younger player who blocked the ensuing shot. 17-year-old Ian James, who saved SKC and kept Aaronson out.

Rafa Navarro did not take long to spare his blushes. Cole Bassett played the Brazilian through on goal, and he made no mistake this time. A delicate chip was enough to beat Pulskamp this time, and Colorado had equalized 22 minutes into the match. It was the other Brazilian Rafa who was involved in the second Rapids goal. Rafa Santos played a beautiful ball into the box that Keegan Rosenberry did not know much about, but the right back put the ball in the back of the net.

Both teams shared some great chances after the Rapids’ go-ahead strike, but no one found the back of the net before the halftime whistle. Colorado had found themselves down early, but fought back and took a 2-1 lead into the break.

The second half was not a similar story. It was not a back-and-forth, but rather a back-and-back-and-some-more-back. It was all SKC in the second half, and it showed on the scoreline. SKC didn’t capitalize until the 73rd minute, but once Salloi scored, it was followed by a Mason Toye goal just two minutes later. Dejan Loveljic got a brace in the 81st minute through another corner. Colorado hadn’t just lost the lead, but they imploded.

Colorado was caught just trying to see the game out in the second half. The Rapids looked lost out there. Similar to how SKC had to try to hang on in Commerce City after going 2-0 up in the reverse fixture. Sporting KC was allowed to take the game to Colorado. They pressed for an equalizer and a go-ahead goal with little to no threat of a counterattack. “We know that if we want our hopes and dreams of making the playoffs, we’ll have to be better. We know that the game in LA wasn’t good enough, and the second half tonight wasn’t good,” Chris Armas said after the match.

Disaster Second Half for Colorado:

It was the second half that was the undoing for the Rapids. More specifically, the eight minutes that it took SKC to score three unanswered goals. Chris Armas was understandably unhappy at his team’s performance in that second half, telling the media, “[There were] too many cheap giveaways that lead to transition moments, you have a goal on a throw-in, these little things can cost you games.”

“It just seemed like we put a lot into the first half. They grew a bit into the second half. Now, all of a sudden, we were taking too much pressure. 50/50 balls, second balls. They were getting some field position. We just couldn’t keep it. Too many unforced errors, hold up play that led to this little bit transition moment. So we just took too much pressure.”

Keegan Rosenberry was aware of the team’s inability to find the game at moments in the second half. He told the media, “We take a lot of water, we take a lot of pressure, and wind up continuing on chances, and we can do a better job of managing the game, seeing the game out, and a little bit more mature to see the team needs.”

Even without the goals from Sporting, it was a difficult second half to watch for the Rapids. Stringing together a few passes seemed impossible at times. The team had to sit back and soak up the pressure for most of the second half. When the goals came in, they were deserved. It was a worrying display from a team fighting for a playoff spot.

Rafa Santos Debut and Injury Update:

One of the few positives on the night was the performance of new Rapids wingback Rafa Santos. He got the assist on the Keegan Rosenberry goal and could have added a goal to his first start for Colorado. He was dangerous in the attack throughout the night and left the backline prior to the collapse in the later stages of the second half.

Chris Armas sang Rafa Santos’ praises after the game, telling the media, “I thought he was positive on the night. in terms of his understanding of what we’re asking. You know, at times releasing into attack and sometimes releasing in pressing moments. I thought he was strong in tackles, and I thought he was active and confident. I think he gets a plus on the night.”

He came up injured late in the first half after making a sliding challenge. Santos looked to injure his shoulder on the play. But continued to play to the 60th minute before making way for Sam Vines. When asked for an update on Santos, Chris Armas told Burgundy Wave, “He fell on his shoulder. I think there was a combination of some pain there. I bet some fatigue, too. In general, put a lot into the game.” It appears that Rafa Santos will not have to miss any time due to this injury, and his substitution was made due to fatigue.

First Signs of Trouble for Chris Armas’ Future:

It is a contract year for Chris Armas. Despite Padraig Smith telling the media that they are looking to renew Armas’ contract, it appears that this has not yet happened. When asked about being in a contract year, Chris Armas told Burgundy Wave, “In terms of contract talks. This is the time of year. There’s been some discussion. It’s not moving as fast as I’d like to be honest, but I’m hopeful. This is where I want to be.”

“I love the team, I love the fans in the locker room, and with five games to go, I would have liked to know where my future is, but the good thing is that it’s come up, and hopefully I can be here for years to come.” Armas had been relatively successful in his two years in Colorado and seemed to be a penciled-in, easy renewal candidate closer to the start of the season. It has shifted recently, and with performances going the way they have, it can’t be helpful to Armas in those contract talks.

Challenge of Integrating New Guys:

The last few matches for Colorado have been concerning. But a possible key contributor to the recent lack of results could be the host of new faces in Colorado. The Rapids had a very busy transfer window. With key guys leaving and others coming in, it can become tricky to have the team gel again. We saw three players get their first start for Colorado, and Chris Armas was aware of the challenge of getting them involved. He told the media, “With Rafa Santos and with Rob holding, these guys have come into the team late in the game here. I think each of them on the night showed such quality and good promise for us.”

Keegan Rosenberry was also aware of the challenges that a team will have when integrating a host of new faces into the system, especially across the back line. He told the media, “We’re not as familiar with our back three. And I think it’s not an excuse, it’s more just those small tendencies from the margins are small, and the small moments in games are hard.”

“[We have to] learn each other’s tendencies when it’s a step one to shift, how we shift, and who is the kind of guy that shifts right, the guy who shifts left, how they like to move, and how we do that effectively together.” This will come in time for Colorado, who looked out of sorts in the back at times. It was a mixed bag for the debutants. Rafa Santos had a good night, Paxten Aaronson was okay, and Rob Holding was poor. Hopefully, they will start to mesh with the team better sooner rather than later, as the playoffs loom.

Colorado will take a week off due to an international break, then take on the Houston Dynamo at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park on September 13 at 7:30 pm MT.

Main Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken

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