Rapids Retain RMC, Lose on the Night- Rapids vs RSL Recap

Sandy, Utah – It was another loss for Colorado when they went to Utah to take on RSL in the second and decisive leg of the Rocky Mountain Cup. A loss that will more than likely keep the team out of the playoffs, but will keep the Rocky Mountain Cup in Colorado. A mix of emotions that has disappointment rising to the top, but the Colorado Rapids are back-to-back Rocky Mountain Cup Champions!

The lineup was unchanged for Chris Armas from the Minnesota game. Josh Atencio and Connor Ronan were in the double pivot. Cole Bassett was stubbornly started at left wing. Alexi Manyoma was an unused substitute. There were no big surprises from Pablo Mastroeni and Salt Lake. Diego Luna was at left midfield in a 4-4-2.

It was a tense first 20 to 25 minutes. Rivalry match nerves were there for sure. Colorado was good on set pieces, with Calvin Harris having a free header within the RSL six-yard box that he got all wrong.

Then it got a little more end-to-end, which ultimately helped out the home side. RSL had the better of the chances. Steffen was forced to make a great save after a long shot by Rwan Cruz. Another chance fell just moments before the eventual opener. Victor Olatunji and Rwan Cruz combined on a counterattack that Steffen had to come off his line and play sweeper-keeper. 

The deadlock was broken by RSL just minutes before the halftime whistle. In the 39th minute, a well-worked attack found Rwan Cruz on the edge of the box. The attacker found Diojo Gonçalves at the top of the box, and the Portuguese winger made no mistake. It was poor from the double pivot, as a late run into the box again hurt the Rapids.

Going into halftime, Colorado was down one on the scoreboard, but level on the Rocky Mountain Cup side of things. With the advantage of being the active holders, the Rapids still had the tiebreaker in terms of retaining the RMC. Colorado would still have to survive another 45 minutes to win the Cup. 

If you were a Rapids fan wanting Colorado to retain the Rocky Mountain Cup, this was a nightmare scenario to endure. Both teams came out of halftime pushing for the next goal, with Colorado starting out strong with some good play, but no goals resulted from it.

It was a story of Colorado pushing for an equalizer while leaving themselves very vulnerable in the back. Victor Olatunji was almost the beneficiary of this when, in the 53rd minute, the hosts broke on the counter and found the striker. He rips his shot from 20 yards off the crossbar and the Rapids were able to clear.

It was a host of Colorado chances after that, sprinkled in with very dangerous counterattacks going the other way for the hosts. Andreas Maxsø was close in the 61st minute after a deflected ball came into the RSL six-yard box and found the centerback, but he was caught off guard and put it over. Ted Ku-DiPietro hit the post just seconds later, having subbed on. 

It was RSL counterattack after counterattack in the final 10 minutes, with Colorado sending Maxsø up to act as another body in the attack. The hosts were unlucky not to increase the advantage and send the Rocky Mountain Cup back to Utah. 

A late flurry of chances from the Rapids was not enough for either side to get another goal, as the game finished 1-0 to the hosts. A loss that will most likely keep Colorado out of this year’s playoffs, but also keep the Rocky Mountain Cup home in Colorado. “Tonight, the loss is a big hit for us in our quest for the playoffs. We know that with certain results, especially this one doesn’t doesn’t help us, doesn’t help our cause, we still have a chance to get into the playoffs, which is our initial goal,” Chris Armas said postgame.

Retain the Cup, Lose the Game

A 1-0 loss was enough to keep the Rocky Mountain Cup in Colorado, but it creates a significant problem for the team now in terms of making the playoffs. They have now do not control their own destiny and will have to rely on others to sneak into the playoffs. 

Chris Armas told the media, “We expect to win on the road, at home, we expect to make the playoffs, and when we fall short of that, there’s no faking it. Winners, don’t fake that.”

“That cup comes back on the plane with us. We will take that, and we’re proud to take it back home. But you know, for our fans and for ourselves, we want more, we’re not satisfied with that.”

Andreas Maxsø had a similar look to winning the cup but losing the game. “It’s very difficult. But again, when you look back after the season, it will be very nice. But the main goal, obviously, was to go to the playoffs. After the season, of course, we’re happy we got it. But right now it’s tough.”

Some questions will need to be asked about a second straight year where the Rapids struggle throughout the end of the season, this time, most likely not securing a playoff spot at all. Colorado doesn’t have the excuse of Leagues Cup congestion this time. An interesting thing to ponder with Chris Armas’ future with the team currently up in the air. 

Dealing with Counterattack While Trailing

Colorado can consider themselves unlucky not to score a goal on the night, but will have to consider themselves just as lucky that RSL didn’t make it 2-0 or 3-0 with some very dangerous last-minute counterattacks. This has been a year-long concern that coincides with the team’s inability to break down a low block. However, both Armas and Maxsø believed the team did well on the night. 

Chris Armas: “If you’re being the aggressors in the second half, you got to leave yourself open to the counterattacks. It’s not a lack of discipline. At the end, we’re going for the goals. So yeah, of course, they bring in some counter threats, and we can be caught in transition. As the head coach, I’d be really concerned if we create no chances and counterattacks are coming our way.”

Andreas Maxsø: “I think we controlled it, especially in the second half, but also in the first half. Obviously, sometimes when you need, when you need a goal, the games become more open, and I think we handled it pretty well.”

Colorado was almost bitten by the counterattack multiple times throughout the night, but the hosts could not convert on any chances. A definite concern going forward with this team, even if it didn’t get them this game. 

Injury Update on Atencio and Steffen Snub

Josh Atencio looked to come up with some sort of head injury in the middle of the second half, coming off for what the broadcast called a concussion substitution. Chris Armas gave Burgundy Wave an update on his condition:

“It was a concussion sub per the definition. I’m not sure what that is right now, but that was the reason he came off. Took a hit to the head and had certain symptoms, and got to be careful with that. We have to protect human beings in those moments. More updates probably in a day or so.”

It was big news during the week that Zack Steffen did not make the USMNT roster for the upcoming friendlies. With one at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park, it looked like a slam dunk to get him in, but Mauricio Pochettino went a different direction at keeper. Chris Armas gave his thoughts on the snub:

“Myself, Chris Sharpe, the goalkeeper coach. We’re extremely surprised that he didn’t get called in. For me, he had one of the best performances in the goalkeeper position over the last year. Statistically, he’s one of the best goalkeepers in the league. So yeah, we were all disappointed and surprised, but we respect that it’s not a right that you get called into a national team. You have to earn that. And Zach is right back to work doing his thing tonight.”

It has to be disappointing for the Rapids shotstopper, who stood on his head at moments against RSL. His chances of being on that World Cup roster seem to be slimming, which would be a real disappointment and a missed chance for the USMNT.

Playoff Push Continues Against LAFC

Despite the loss, the Rapids are not mathematically out of the playoff chase. Colorado will have to rely on other results going their way in order to sneak in, but Chris Armas emphasizes that they still have a chance and that the team will have to give its all in the final match against LAFC. 

Chris Armas: “There are teams that have been eliminated already. We’re in the mix. This is a locker room. It’s a good group; we never get too high or low. You have heard me say that. We get home, and it’s a few days off. We gotta buy in next weekend, and we give everything.”

“The regular season’s over. We’ll see where the chips fall, but we will take care of our controls, and you can expect a team to go after LAFC. We hope they’re at their best and we compete them at their best. That’s our that’s our plan,” Armas finished.

It will take a Herculean effort to get a result against a red-hot LAFC team, and it could not even be enough for the Burgundy Boys. They could be eliminated before Decision Day with certain results. The eyes will now go towards RSL, San Jose, and Dallas. 

Colorado will take a week off and come back at DICK’s against LAFC on October 18th at 7:00 p.m. MT.

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