Player Ratings: Rapids Fall on the Road 3-1, Vancouver Capitalize on Poor Performance

Vancouver, British Columbia- Colorado suffered another road loss away at Vancouver in a game where they never quite looked like themselves. Despite flashes at the end of the half, Colorado never got into the game, and it was all Vancouver. 

The loss comes at the end of a difficult stretch for the Rapids, facing Inter Miami, LAFC, and the Vancouver Whitecaps in a two week span. Fixtures are beginning to come thick and fast for Matt Well’s side. 

Colorado lost 3-1 in a match that Wells described as a lesson. While the Rapids didn’t look like themselves, they were lucky to escape by a two goal deficit, with poor buildup play and creation of chances. 

Focus now turns to the midweek round of 16 cup match against rivals, Colorado Springs Switchbacks. 

Zack Steffen

Another poor performance. Steffen made solid saves that kept the Rapids in the game, but for the style of play that Wells wants to employ, he has to be better playing out of the back. There were several mistimed passes that meant Vancouver always kept the pressure on. On the goals, Steffen can’t do much, two were tap-ins, and the second one he gets caught in no man’s land. 4/10

Kosi Thompson 

A really difficult night for both wingbacks who had their hands full at all times. In buildup, Vancouver was extremely organized, and at times Thompson was too slow on the ball, which led to sloppy passes, turnovers, and a multitude of Vancouver chances. On the first goal, the backline shifts too far and leaves Muller wide at the back post. A frustrating night. Thompson was subbed out in the 64th minute. 4/10

Rob Holding

Colorado suffered defensively against a high-octane attack on the road. Vancouver came with so much energy early, and defensively it has to be better for Colorado. Holding had several mistakes in buildup, but also made important stops. When the Whitecaps put on pressure, Holding struggled, and on the second goal he’s caught far too forward leaving Steffen stranded. 5/10

Lucas Herrington 

An average night for Herrington. He made a lot of good decisions and halted a lot of Vancouver’s real chances. The scoreline stayed close thanks to Herrington at times. In possession, he wasn’t as composed or precise, and on a night with three goals conceded, Herrington had to be at fault. On the first goal, he’s aimless and leaves the back post free. Not much to be too harsh with on the second and third Whitecap goals. 5/10

Miguel Navarro 

It was a long night for both wingbacks who had a lot to handle. Navarro did well defensively, but got caught out in transition a few times. In the buildup, all of Colorado struggled to break into the Whitecaps half. He did have a few flashes of attacking quality and danger, but not enough to impact the game. 5/10

Hamzat Ojediran

An okay night for the defensive midfielder. Ojediran got into good pockets of space, but lacked some quality in passes forward and struggled to dictate the middle of the pitch. Ojediran was key in defensive structure and stifling some Vancouver counters. Unfortunately, Vancouver was superior in most phases of the match. 5/10

Wayne Frederick 

A decent night for the youngster. Frederick got forward and created chances for Colorado at the end of the half when they got back into the game. Frederick was in the holding midfield position and tried his best to keep possession and dictate tempo. For most of the night, Colorado was sloppy in buildup and really struggled. 6/10

Paxten Aaronson 

As of late, Aaronson hasn’t been as effective at the ten or out wide. He gets into really good pockets and can create, but at times waited too long to play the breaking ball or got caught out. For the Rapids to be successful, Aaronson needs to progress, play forward and continue to be dangerous. Subbed out in the 56th minute. 5/10

Dante Sealy 

A bright spot in the difficult and frustrating loss. Sealy was great in taking players on, but both wingers found it difficult due to the lack of service. He did the best he could with the slim number of chances created. On the Rapids opener, he meets the ball on the cross first, it bounces to Rafael Navarro, who does the rest. In the second half, he had a few looks with the ball cut back in the box. 7/10

Rafael Navarro

It’s his seventh goal of the season, although Colorado suffered offensively. For much of the 90, Colorado couldn’t progress past Vancouver’s initial press. It’s frustrating and difficult, but Navarro made the most of the Rapids end to the half, notching himself a goal to get back into the game. There were a few other chances, but a frustrating night overall. 7/10

Georgi Minoungou

A bright and dynamic performance from Minoungou. He got the start again out wide and really looked dangerous at times. During the Rapids only momentum at the end of the first half, he took on players and got the cross that led to Rafael Navarro’s opener. Although difficult, Minoungou made the most of the night. 6/10

Substitutes

Darren Yapi 

Yapi entered the match in the 56th minute for Aaronson and moved out wide. A good performance. Although he didn’t get on the scoresheet or directly impact the match, Yapi looked dangerous and caused some issues. 6/10

Keegan Rosenberry

Entered in the 64th minute in a tough match for Thompson. Colorado suffered out wide and had their hands full on the night. Rosenberry got caught out by a brilliant team goal and rapid pace. On the third goal, he sets the angle up well to win the ball, but Bruno Caicedo flies by, who then cuts the ball back to a waiting Brian White. Tough one to take. 5/10

Alexis Manyoma, Noah Cobb subbed in too late to be judged fairly 

Matt Wells 

A tough pill to swallow away from home against a top MLS side. Colorado suffered, and Wells described it as a big lesson and learning opportunity. Unfortunately, he noticed the gulf between the two sides and admits Colorado isn’t at that level yet. 

Despite tonight’s hard lesson, this team is going somewhere. Through that process, there’s going to be expected bumps and detours. In this one, Well’s side and mentality disappeared. 

For a possession based, dominating side, Colorado was sloppy in buildup, outworked, and unlike themselves. At times, Wells will be stubborn in his play style, but in a game like tonight, is it worth it to continue to try building out and making mistakes?

How many more times will Colorado have to suffer on the road for them to become a top MLS team where Wells wants them headed? There’s no question Colorado can dominate “lower” MLS sides, but tonight Colorado learned their levels. 

For now, Wells has a process and no matter how it might take, he’s determined to take it all the way through difficult lessons and frustrating nights. 6/10

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