Rapids Player Ratings: Colorado Fall 3-1 at New York City FC

BRONX, N.Y.- Matt Wells and the Colorado Rapids suffered their second loss of the season, Saturday night, 3-1 at New York City FC. The Rapids are yet to win away from home in the new season. 

NYCFC got on the scoresheet first after punishing Colorado from playing out of the back before doubling the lead just before halftime. Darren Yapi responded with his second goal of the season in first half stoppage time. 

In the second half, the Rapids lacked quality in the final third and conceded a third goal that put the game out of reach. On a narrow pitch, Wells struggled to find success in the usual playstyle.

The Burgundy Boys will turn their attention to next week away to Sporting Kansas City.

Nico Hansen

Another start for Hansen in goal as Zack Steffen continues to recover from his shoulder injury. Hansen made decent stops. He cannot be the only one blamed for NYCFC’s opener after the Rapids gave the ball away cheaply. NYCFC pounced on the rebound. For Hansen, getting beat at the near post is never a good look, and there’s not much he could do on the third goal. Hansen looked a little more comfortable in buildup. 6/10

Keegan Rosenberry 

The captain got the start, filling in for injured Reggie Cannon. Rosenberry did well getting forward and created an opportunity with a threatening ball across the middle early in the first half. Defensively, the Rapids struggled, Rosenberry had some good moments but nothing to write home about. 7/10

Rob Holding 

Disaster on the first goal for Holding and Colorado. Playing out of the back has been a strong contention point. Holding offers comfortability, experience, and composure. Unfortunately, the veteran did not show these qualities in this game. He played a near impossible ball to control into the middle, NYCFC pounces, and Holding is caught in no man’s land. Holding looked rushed in buildup, and was poor on the third goal getting out to close the gap. A night to forget for Holding. 4/10

Lucas Herrington

One of the stronger performances from the backline. Herrington looked comfortable on the ball and made key stops. He played threatening balls that progressed the attack forward for Colorado. Unfortunately, on a night you concede three goals, defensively that isn’t a good performance. Herrington was a bright spot in a lackluster defensive effort. 7/10

Jackson Travis 

Travis looked good. He made key stops and defended well out wide. The youngster got forward and is a clear target in the buildup phase. He gets on the ball wide and progresses it forward to link up with the wingers. Travis doesn’t need to foul on the edge of the box nearing the end of the first half and NYCFC score off the set piece. In another world, the Rapids and NYCFC go into the break at a stalemate. 6/10

Hamzat Ojediran

A decent performance from Ojediran. He found pockets of space really well in buildup. At times he takes control of the tempo and can dominate the middle third. He did well to break up loose balls in the middle and control NYCFC’s attack. He committed several fouls and received a yellow card. Ojediran came off in the 69th for Josh Atencio. 7/10

Wayne Frederick II

Frederick earned the start after putting together several solid performances off the bench. He got into pockets well, but struggled defensively at times. He was out of position on several transitions. At times, Frederick held on to the ball for too long. Frederick was subbed off in the 55th minute for Ted Ku-DiPietro. There may be work to do for Wells to find who fits the defensive midfielder partnership. 4/10

Paxten Aaronson 

He was brilliant at times, running at NYCFC and creating real opportunities. It was a frustrating night for the Rapids. Struggling to play out of the back, Colorado looked really good in moments of transition and getting forward. Small mistakes in the midfield and a lack of quality in the final third kept the Rapids chasing. Aaronson had a really good chance in the late stages to equalize before NYCFC scored the third goal. 6/10

Alexis Manyoma

Manyoma struggled to make an impact. The narrow pitch didn’t help his chances. Manyoma could’ve gotten forward more and asked real questions of New York’s defense. Additionally, it really seemed the Rapids wanted to play directly through the middle of the pitch. Off the ball, Manyoma pressed well, but he would’ve hoped for more of a direct impact. He had a miscommunication on the set piece that led to the second goal. Manyoma was subbed off in the 55th minute. It was disappointing given he got his first start off the goal last game. 4/10

Rafael Navarro 

Great work rate again. Navarro wasn’t as potent as he was last week against the Galaxy, but he still had a real impact. Navarro had a fantastic assist to Yapi to grab a goal back before the half in transition. Pressed well and made great runs forward. He always finds a way to influence the game. A frustrating night for the Rapids attack. 7/10

Darren Yapi

Great clinical finish. For much of the first half, Yapi looked ineffective on the wing, but he took players on and created real opportunities. He linked up well with Navarro and looked dangerous going forward. In transition, Yapi found the ball and poached a goal just before the break. It was perfect timing and forced the Rapids back into the game. It’s Yapi’s third goal contribution of the season as he continues to play a key role in Well’s system. 8/10 man of the match 

Substitutes

Ted Ku-DiPietro

Came on in the 55th minute for Wayne Frederick to try to help the Rapids attack. Ku-DiPietro got forward, but on a night where the final third lacked quality, he didn’t do much to change their dynamic. 6/10

Dante Sealy 

Subbed on for Alexis Manyoma in the 55th minute, Colorado wanted more from their wingers. Sealy did well to get forward and assist in buildup play. On a narrow pitch, Sealy struggled to make an impact and lacked quality on some of his crosses. 6/10

Josh Atencio 

Atencio came on in the 69th minute for Frederick. He did well to  break up loose balls and progress to play forward. On the third goal, the midfield and Atencio can do so much better to close gaps in the middle of the pitch. It will be interesting to see if Atencio is back in the starting lineup next week. 6/10

Billo Diop, Miguel Navarro on too late to be judged fairly.

Matt Wells

The Rapids are yet to win away from home. Albeit in two games against great teams. Wells wants to play expansive and dominating soccer. In this case, the Rapids looked much better away from home then they did in Seattle, but they were punished playing out of the back on the first goal. In a different game and a narrower pitch, Wells was stubborn in playing out of the back, a playstyle that is still developing. 

The Rapids have looked great at home this year, but away from home, they’ve really struggled to get a result. Glaringly last night, the Rapids lacked final third quality, and struggled defensively. Dominating in possession, the Rapids have to find a way to turn that into goals. Wells will not be happy with conceding three goals away from home. 

With two more away games before the Rapids return home, Wells and Colorado will need to get a result. As the playstyle continues to improve, the Rapids will want to be more expansive and dominating away from home. The quality in the final third also needs to improve for the Rapids to contend in the west. 5/10

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