Commerce City, Colo- For the first time since 1999 and just the third time ever, Colorado Rapids are going to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinal! On Wednesday night, they hosted San Jose Earthquakes in the Quarterfinal. Three VAR reviews, two set piece goals, and the C38 capo bantering on the megaphone made the night all the more memorable.
Matt Wells’ side were healthier than they’ve been in a month. Kosi Thompson was suspended so Reggie Cannon made his first start since the Switchbacks game. Josh Atencio got his first start since the concussion at Houston. Rob Holding, Dante Sealy, and Darren Yapi were back in the team.
San Jose were injured coming into this game. Timo Werner, Niko Tsakiris, and DeJuan Jones were all unavailable. Beau Leroux led the attack.
When’s the last time you saw three VAR reviews in one half? That’s what we got in the first half.
The chaos kicked off in the 22nd minute. Colorado had a free kick. It got recycled to Atencio who chipped the ball near post to Rafael Navarro for a knockdown header. A quick VAR review later, the goal was called offside for the initial free kick. A Quakes player won a header cleanly on that play. It was puzzling.
Darren Yapi avenged Navarro on 40 minutes. Colorado took a short corner. Sealy then went back post to Yapi for a knock down header.
Wayne Frederick went down with a head injury but returned with a wrap around his head. Quakes goalkeeper Daniel was hit with a beer can from the crowd after the goal, leading to a stop for medical attention. The fan was later escorted out by Commerce City Police. Both players stayed in the game. Before the Yapi goal, there was a VAR check for a possible penalty against Lucas Herrington but nothing was called.
All of this led to 9 minutes of stoppage time. In that final minute, Frederick kicked up a ball on the edge of the box, appearing to hit Reid Roberts’ hand. A free kick was called. VAR got involved for the third time, and Fotis Bazakos pointed to the spot. Navarro sent Daniel the wrong way on a quick run up, making it 2-0 at half. It was Navarro’s 9th goal all comps.
Colorado locked things down in the second half. Possession was about even. The Rapids killed the game off and had there chances in transition. They were compact defensively and limited the Quakes. Nico Hansen had one good save to make. The toughest shot he faced was a double save in the 12th, with the second being Ousseni Bouda’s shot through Rob Holding, who was screening the keeper.
Georgi Minoungou had a great look in transition that he almost put through Daniel’s leg. The match ended 2-0.
History made. Get hyped for mid-September.
First quarterfinal since 2007. First semifinal since 1999, third semifinal ever in the competition. First time the Rapids have beaten an MLS team in a knockout competition since the third place Leagues Cup match in 2024. First time in a domestic competition since 2016 against LA Galaxy. First time beating an MLS team in the Open Cup since 2006 (a 1-0 win over RSL). And this was probably the least stressful of the game.
“Great to be in the semifinal but we don’t want to be satisfied there. We don’t want to stop there,” said Wells. “Tonight, I want to enjoy the moment of getting to the semifinal. I just encouraged the players to do that.”
Colorado will host St. Louis CITY, who they just lost to in MLS on September 15 or 16. The final will be hosted by the winner of the east semifinal. This game needs to be the highest attended Open Cup game in club history.
Both strikers score:
Navarro scored a goal that was disallowed. He then finished the penalty and made it look easily. He did the same thing in the shootout against Switchbacks. He’s gone away from the stutter step and it’s worked. Nine goals and six assists all comps. Third goal contribution in Open Cup. Still, his overall performance could have been better.
“Massive moment with the penalty. Took his other moment with the disallowed goal. Outside of that, had one of his lesser games. Spoke to him afterwards… They were man marking so the passing lanes were always open… He knew he wasn’t having a great game with the ball…,” Wells said of the Brazilian.
Darren Yapi’s finish was just as good as Navarro’s on the disallowed goal. He continues to be the team’s most goal-dangerous player while playing winger. Even though he no memory of 1999 or 2007, he knew the significance of the result.
“It was the most complete performance I’ve had this season. Back against the goal, regaining possession, pressing, recovery runs. It showed tonight. On top of that, the goal as well,” said Yapi.
“We play to win trophies… The whole club is just very very high… We’re not going to get too carried away… I really want a trophy.”
#InstantReplay:
I’m no Andrew Wiebe, but let’s talk about the night VAR had. The disallowed Rapids goal appears to be a case of indirect offsides. Holding was called offside on the initial free kick. He is in an offside position but is not a factor in the defensive header. I’m generally an indirect offside truther. It’s subject to interpretation. I can’t see how this goal was disallowed.
The other two calls are straight forward. Paul Marie played a heavy touch in the 35th. Lucas Herrington dues run into him, rather clumsily. But the ball is heading so far away, had Herrington stopped, he would have been between the attacker in the ball. Marie is never getting to the ball once he takes that touch. Good no call. On the penalty, the ball clearly goes off Roberts’ hand. The play is on the edge of the box. VAR had a good angle to confirm it was inside.
On another day, the Rapids don’t score before halftime and end up losing. Indirect offside or not, scoreboard don’t lie.
Job done in the Cup. Professional performance.
Honestly, this game was kind of boring. It was a high level stalemate for long stretches. The two teams focused on their defensive structure and made it hard for the other to open them up.
“Great achievement tonight. I thought it was a high level game. Both teams man-man against each other… We came out on the right end of the small margins… The word in my mind was ‘quite complete.’ It was a complete performance… The general performance was very strong. We needed to suffer second half as a team,” said Wells.
Colorado played well as the front runners after scoring first. They were good on set pieces at both ends. That matters in knockout games. San Jose had two good chances maybe. Bruce Arena was visibly frustrated. That made the professional performance all the more satisfying. Job done. Move onto the semis. Move onto Saturday vs FC Dallas.
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Spencer Baldwin 
Eamon Shaw 