Stoppage Time Own Goal: Colorado Rapids Debuts Lead in win Over Houston Dynamo

Commerce City, CO – The secondary transfer window paid off big time Saturday night in Commerce City. Colorado Rapids hosted Houston Dynamo, looking to bounce back from two straight road losses. On Marvel Superhero Night, Paxten Aaronson and the Debutants were basically their own crime fighting team. They saved the day, just in the nick of time.

Chris Armas had some lineup decisions to make. The team came out in what mostly looked like a 4-2-3-1. Three Rapids players made their home debuts as starters. Rafael Santos started at left back in a back four along with center back Rob Holding. Paxten Aaronson started in midfield. Cole Bassett mostly played on the left.

Holding’s friend Jonathan Bond started for Houston in goal. Aaronson’s former Philadelphia Union teammate Jack McGlynn started against him in midfield. Evergreen High School graduate Griffin Dorsey started at right back.

Colorado got things going in the 10th minute. Bassett won a free kick at the top of the box. After some discussions watching the Houston wall, Santos back-dragged the ball for Bassett to run onto. Bassett curled the ball around the Dynamo wall and into the bottom right corner.

Houston had their looks in transition. Ezequiel Ponce had a great header he couldn’t get on goal in the 30th. Dorsey had a chance cutting inside that was right at Steffen. Dorsey later put a cross in the box that went off Reggie Cannon and could have been an own goal.

It could have been 3-0 before halftime. In the 38th, Bassett cross the ball to the far post with three Rapids players going for it. Calvin Harris got to it first and couldn’t get the shot on target. Aaronson was right there for a possible tap in. Oli Larraz was ready for a shot on a corner or two, but defenders beat him to the ball. The half ended 1-0.

Houston came alive in the 64th minute. The had a several attacks that saw class Andreas Maxsø slide tackle to win a goal kick and another where McGlynn hit the post. McGlynn made up for that miss in the 68th. Lawrence Ennali went at Cannon and crossed from the end line finding McGlynn wide open for a tap in goal. Several Rapids players could have been there to challenge, Santos most of all.

Colorado pushed in the final 16 minutes to find a winner with Houston content to play compact. Rafael Navarro and Aaronson both had shots blocked. Alexis Manyoma made his debut in the 80th and brought energy on the right flank. Sam Vines uncorked a shot from outside the box in the 89th that was saved well.

The match was headed for a draw with Colorado dropping points in a six-pointer again. Then Rob Holding fired a shot at buddy Jonathan Bond that was saved for a corner. In the final minute of stoppage time, Ronan took the corner quickly. Aaronson got to the ball, playing it off his shoulder. The ball went off Felipe Andrade and snuck into the side netting. The match ended 2-1 off the kickoff with Navarro earning a second yellow cart on Artur.

The debutants were good:

Paxten Aaronson. Rafeal Santos. Rob Holding. Alexi Manyoma in that order.

“Manyoma had some few bright spots. That 1-v-1 he had, always excites fans. We’re so happy to have (Aaronson). Rafa Santos, Rob as well, they’ve all stepped up,” Basset said.

Aaronson was everywhere. He was lively in the link up play and energetic. He did all of that while being vertical and delivering passes to open things up. It was a bit lucky, but he “created the coincidence” on the winner. He still hasn’t clicked in terms of goals and assists from the run of play. But he’s creating chances in bunches. That will come.

Santos was great going forward. He now has 3 assists in 145 minutes in Burgundy. Sam Vines has 2 assists in 18 appearances this year. Santos combined well with Navarro and Bassett. He had several good crosses. All while being tidy and unnoticed defensively. He was at fault on the McGlynn goal. Otherwise a flawless performance. Colorado got him for $125K GAM with incentives up to $300K GAM. That trade has already paid off. He’s got an option for 2026. Is he on track to be the presumed starter next year and see Vines traded?

Holding was solid in possession. He didn’t have much to do defensively but did well in those moments. Manyoma was a live wire in the few minutes that he got. Helped create attacks. He’s been here just a week so not bad.

“The best part for me was the see the level of desire that they guys had to win. Rafa Santos, you can see is an attacking fullback. He serves a good ball. He has the attacking instincts. He gives us a lot in the attack. Paxten, you can see how he can build our attacks. We can use him as a spare man in the midfield. He’s very comfortable between the lines. Verticality. He’s energetic. He’s elusive. Wonderful addition to our team. Just getting started with him too,” Armas said of Aaronson and Santos.

This team still has issues to improve on:

Houston didn’t do a lot outside of their spell in the second half. It was mostly long balls to bypass the midfield. It was different and it worked. Colorado could have recognized that and adjusted sooner. Santos said the goal conceded was due to a lapse in concentration. Something to work on. It happens.

“It’s important to stay on the same page for all 90 minutes. Then chances they did get were from us pressing and they play one long ball and they’re in 1-v-1 situations,” Aaronson told Burgundy Wave.

“They got a few free headers that I was disappointed at. I spoke to the coaches already. It’s something we’re going to work on this week,” added Holding.

Playoff implications:

This was a massive three points for the club. Armas called it a playoff-like game and atmosphere.

Colorado is now on 39 points, 8th, and 5 points above the red line. Granted a few teams have games in hand. They still have road matches to 10th and 11th place RSL and FC Dallas. Their playoff hopes and seeding are probably determined by those games. Four matches left, two at home, two on the road. The result was big. The drama and emotions of how they won it could build momentum. They’ll need that.

“We got to get on a little streak here, get hot going into the playoffs. This one vs Dallas is a big one because they won tonight,” said Bassett.

Colorado heads to FC Dallas next Saturday, September 20. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. MT.

Photo Credit: Spencer Baldwin

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