Player Ratings: Rapids Debutantes Shine, Team Responds After Toronto Loss, Hammer Houston at Home

Commerce City, Colo.- After last week’s disappointing loss marred by mistakes and frustration, Colorado Rapids returned home with a fiery response. 

The Rapids dominated the Dynamo in a game that left no questions. Kosi Thompson scored a brace, Georgi Minoungou impressed, and Colorado remained unbeaten at home. 

The Rapids now turn their attention to their 30th anniversary next week at home against Inter Miami and Lionel Messi. 

Zack Steffen

A really good response from Steffen this week. There were plenty of questions about him last week after the self-implosion in Toronto. Steffen made a statement in the victory and showed his class. He made important saves that stifled Houston’s momentum. He looked a little shaky in buildup at times and there’s not much he could do on the two Dynamo goals. Still, the response shows Steffen is still a top keeper. 8/10

Rob Holding 

A good night for the Rapids backline. Holding made a few really good stops as Houston broke the lines. He was good in buildup and progressed the game forward through the midfield line. Holding was composed and there’s a lot of good to take out of his performance. 8/10

Lucas Herrington

Every week, Herrington seems to unlock a new level. The Colorado youngster impressed once again. He was active, stifling balls played into Houston’s attackers looking to turn and go at goal. He had several tough challenges that made it difficult to create anything. Late on in the game at 3-1, Herrington had a last ditch sliding tackle executed to perfection. What a night for the kid. 9/10

Kosi Thompson

Welcome to Colorado. In a game where Matt Wells is without Jackson Travis and Miguel Navarro, he had to rely on Thompson. Stuck in at the 3-4-3, Thompson played as a right center back and wingback. He defended well, but the story of the night will certainly be the brace and the assist. He does well to get into the back post position to score a similar goal to Rosenberry last week. On the second, he touches it down, and his shot deflects to put the game out of reach. 9/10 man-of-the-match

Hamzat Ojediran

A solid performance again from the defensive midfielder. He got into pockets well, progressed the game forward by getting the ball on the half turn and finding wingers in space. He, alongside Josh Atencio, made it really difficult for Houston to play through the middle. That work rate is key to Wells’ playstyle. Ojediran was subbed off in the 55th minute for Rosenberry. 7/10

Josh Atencio

I was really impressed by Atencio’s performance. Atencio got into pockets well and was a key piece in buildup. He drew pressure in and then got it on the half turn finding Wayne Frederick and Paxten Aaronson in space. On his goal, he finds it well off the press and hits through it leaving no chance for Jonathan Bond. Atencio was a big part of controlling the tempo and the domination. 8/10

Wayne Frederick

In the 3-4-3 position, Frederick was pushed a little wider than normal, but he did well to progress the game forward and create real goal scoring opportunities. Frederick continues to mature with each performance. He wins duels and is still without a card this year. He linked up well with the front three and made it difficult for Houston to keep the ball. At times, Frederick could take players on and become dangerous, but a really good performance. 7/10

Paxten Aaronson 

Aaronson didn’t get on the scoresheet this week, but influenced the game really strongly. He found the ball in pockets just past the front press of Houston, and attacked well. He won second balls and continued to lead on the pitch. Aaronson and Rafael Navarro continue to cause a lot of problems. On the sixth goal, Navarro pressed and Aaronson won the penalty. A classic partnership. 8/10

Dante Sealy

Sealy was dynamic, bright, and too much to handle for Houston’s backline. He helped in buildup and took on players. On the first goal, he plays a brilliant ball across the face of the goal to set up Kosi Thompson for the opener. Sealy keeps putting himself in real opportunities to score, and at some point the goals have to come. Sealy was subbed off in the 72nd minute. 7/10

Darren Yapi

Yapi had a good night. He found acres of space at times and ran with the Houston backline. Both him and Sealy caused massive problems in buildup and transition. Wells has spoken on physicality and domination. Yapi dominated stretches of the game and could’ve got on the scoresheet himself. He was subbed off in the 64th minute for Minoungou. 7/10

Rafeal Navarro

Navarro was brilliant. His work rate was unmatched. He dropped into midfield at times to hold the ball up and advance the play out wide. In transition, he picked the ball up and ran directly at Dynamo’s defense. He caused real issues. Navarro got himself on the scoresheet on a poacher’s finish, and caused the penalty through his pressing, which he put away for his second goal. 9/10

Substitutes

Keegan Rosenberry

Rosenberry continues to be a trustworthy pick off the bench for Wells. With a goal last week, Rosenberry entered the match for Ojediran in the 55th minute. He put together a good performance, linking up and getting forward, while really adding to the Rapids defense. 7/10

Georgi Minoungou

Matt Wells has found his next best weapon on the wing. Minoungou went at defenders with confidence. He was dynamic and nearly scored himself early on, twisting and turning 1-v-1 and causing real issues. On the fourth goal, he got the assist after beating one and sliding it across for Navarro. Minoungou will be fun to watch. 8/10

Alexis Manyoma

Really dynamic and bright out wide, caused a lot of issues with pace and dangerous balls in transition. On the fifth goal, he takes on two Dynamo players and the ball falls to Noah Cobb who pummels one across the box for an own goal. Wells has some serious talent on the bench. 7/10

Noah Cobb

Entered the game in the 72nd minute and was a massive part of seeing the game out. Cobb came in for Thompson and defended really well out wide. As mentioned, on the fifth goal, the ball falls to him and he does all the work as it deflects off a Dynamo defender into the net. With suspensions and injuries, Wells has to use his depth, and Cobb performed well. 7/10

Matt Wells

The Rapids have won three consecutive games at home, a feat they haven’t accomplished since 2016 when they reached the Western Conference Finals. After seven games, there’s no question this team is good.

Wells is getting so much out of a young group and players that nobody expected to perform. Frederick has bloomed under Wells. Both Thompson and Minoungou came on with immediate impact. It’s clear the tactics employed are working. Each week, Colorado looks more composed, confident, and dominating. 

The mentality of this group is so outstanding as well and a lot of that comes down to Wells. Through adversity, this team fights and will respond. That’s a really good sign of things to come. 

The question now is truly how high the ceiling can be for Well’s side. 9/10

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