Commerce City, Colo.- In any sports season, there are few opportune nights where you have to cash in. For the Colorado Rapids, that came in the third game of the season. On Saturday night, they hosted LA Galaxy. It was a bench mark match for both sides. A fantastic offensive output and a Gabriel Pec red card made it a statement game.
Goalkeeper Zack Steffen sustained a shoulder injury midweek, so Nico Hansen made his first start for the first team since Leauges Cup on August 20, last year. Darren Yapi was in at winger, after being replaced by Alex Harris last game. Rafael Navarro was captain for the first time as a Rapid. The lineup was otherwise unchanged.
For the visitors, there were no surprises. The Killer Ps of Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil started on the wings. João Klauss was at center forward. Maya Yoshida was captain at center back. Marco Reus was in midfield.
The first half was a competitive back-and-forth affair. Colorado were good at pressing in midfield. Both teams made it hard for the other to play out of the back. The Rapids tried it regularly, with most plays ending in a hopeful ball up field or playing out for a throw in. LA were at their best in transition out of midfield, playing through Pec and Reus. Reggie Cannon and Paintsil had numerous physical battles and races to loose balls.
LA had the field tilt in the first 20 minutes, but it was the home side that got the goal. Hamzat Ojediram won a 50-50 ball in midfield. He played forward to Paxten Aaronson who took a heavy touch but it fell fortuitously to Yapi, who was making a run. Yapi took the ball forward, went at Yoshida 1-v-1 then buried the ball far bottom corner.
LA’s best chance came in the 32nd minute. Incisive passing led to a first time shot from Pec. Hansen made the diving save. The half ended with those two players going for a loose ball in the box. Hansen made the save. Pec was given a yellow for getting a foot in. Both remained in the game.
The second half had no flow to it. Five minutes in, Paintsil was subbed off with an injury. LA equalized in the 56th. They recycled a corner and Pec found Klauss for a header. It had been coming. Rob Holding and Yapi were at fault.
LA had all the momentum when in the 60th, the match turned on its head. Navarro dribbled to the midway line and was taken down from behind by Pec. Pec was given a second yellow card, reducing the visitors to ten men.
The game was a mess after that. Connor Ronan, having subbed on, was subbed off for Alexis Manyoma for an injury. Navarro had a small breakaway that was saved. Keegan Rosenberry subbed on and nearly scored on a header. The Galaxy were doing well putting numbers behind the ball.
That was until the 76th minute. Direct passing saw Yapi square the ball to a late arriving Manyoma. The Colombian buried it for his first MLS goal contribution.
Colorado would take advantage of garbage time. Navarro had a tap-in in the 85th. Rosenberry uncorked a shot from outside the box and Navarro cleaned up for his first goal of the year. Four minutes later, he clowned the Galaxy backline with a shot to the top corner.
The match ended 4-1.
Yapi Hour, early and late.
Navarro will get the headlines with the brace, but this match was won by Darren Yapi. He made a great individual effort on the opening goal. Up a man, this game was calling out for some quality to open things up. His assist to Manyoma showed vision and anticipation. Two goal contributions after being dropped last game. What a statement by the Homegrown given recent events and playing out of position.
“I just want to play. When you see young strikers struggling for minutes because every single team has a DP striker, I just try my best to find a way to play. I just want to get on the pitch and help the team,” Yapi said post game.
“(Wells) pushed me to a place mentally I didn’t think I could even be. I just feel so prepared after preseason,” he said, adding “Every single week, I want to start. I want to do well. It’s so healthy to have that competition again. It’s going to sharpen me.”
A night of firsts. Offense by committee.
For the Rapids to succeed this season, they need offensive contributions from several players. They cannot just rely on Aaronson to Navarro. Beyond Yapi, Aaronson and Ojediran had assists on that goal. That’s two goal contributions each in back-to-back games. Wayne Frederick II had the assist on the fourth goal, his first in MLS. Rosenberry created the third goal as well with the shot.
“Some good storylines in terms of players stepping up. Yaps. Nico in goal, I thought was outstanding, ready to take his opportunity… He’s been ill. Yapi coming in to take his chance. Manyoma off the bench, scoring his first goal for Colorado. All around, I’d say some good storylines on that front. A real team effort this morning,” Wells told Burgundy Wave.
Manyoma getting his first goal contribution at the club is huge for his confidence. There’s 12 games left before Colorado needs to make a decision on his purchase option. He needs more minutes to prove his worth.
It was good for Navarro to get two goals, even if they didn’t affect the result. What a shift for the first time captain. He’s worked so hard in three games. He does so much thankless hard work off the ball. A poacher’s goal and a great finish are very him. Like Manyoma and Yapi, hopefully this is the start of a purple patch for him.
“Really special night for Rafa tonight. Such a perfect guy to lead us. The obvious language barrier is there. It speaks more about people when you don’t need a language to understand their character, their intention. It’s not about the goals, his work ethic… you don’t get that from No. 9s across the league,” Rosenberry said.
Navarro gave the armband to Rosenberry when he subbed on, unprompted.
Moving away from the offense, Hansen did well as a sudden starter. It’s hard to fault him on the goal. He had some good saves. He wasn’t perfect playing out of the back. But once again, Hansen has proved a steady backup for Steffen.
Putting the Galaxy to the sword was cathartic.
Rapids fans are still hurt from the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs. The teams have split regular season games recently, with the home team winning post. This performance and result felt good given the opponent. I think this LA team is much better than last year. This win felt like a statement. And to do so after the performance last week against Portland? And with three road games in a row coming up? Well done.
“The sentiment in the locker room is a little dissatisfied. It speaks to where the new attitude and culture is at this club and what the gaffer has brought… They get a man sent off and we take care of the game from there pretty maturely,” said Rosenberry.
It was two dumb fouls by Pec for the two bookings. The game was in the balance. LA had momentum. Colorado could have lost this game. Navarro again showed his worth on a hustle play to force the Gabriel Pec red card. A tactical foul at midfield with the whole defense back? So unnecessary. It bailed Colorado out. Tie game in the 60th minute and you go down a man with both Killer Ps out of the game? Too easy.
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Spencer Baldwin 
Eamon Shaw 