Commerce City, Colo.- After a nearly two-month long break, the Colorado Rapids returned to action with a midseason friendly against Mexican side FC Juarez. The game featured four thirty-minute quarters to give an opportunity for minutes and a chance to prepare for a return to MLS play.
It was a rematch from the 2024 Leagues Cup thriller, when Colorado came from behind to win in the late stages of the match.
Nathan Tchoumba, Vincent Rinaldi, Jabari De Coteau, and Chris Aquino were called up from Rapids 2. Matt Well’s side was rotated heavily as Rapids 2 players, Rinaldi, Sydney Wathuta, Donavan Phillip got the start.
Colorado set up in a 4-2-3-1 as Nico Hansen started. Keegan Rosenberry, Rob Holding, Paxten Aaronson, and Josh Atencio returned to the starting eleven.
The first thirty minutes were a cagey affair with minimal chances from both ends. Colorado was comfortable in possession and created chances going forward. Juarez didn’t have an answer after 45 minutes of play as the Rapids limited attacking options.
Rapids 2 players Rinaldi, Phillip and Wathuta impressed.
Rinaldi played alongside Rob Holding and, within twenty-five minutes of play, got his name on the scoresheet after a back post header. He was composed and didn’t look out of place.
“I mean it’s a great feeling,” Rinaldi said on scoring the opener
“That’s the first time I’ve scored in two years, so it’s good to get on the scoresheet again and just a great feeling.”
Wathuta was in at defensive midfield and looked comfortable keeping the ball and going forward.
Throughout the match, Colorado controlled the flow of play. After sixty minutes, a fresh group took the pitch. Loic Williams entered for his Colorado debut and looked strong.
Adam Beaudry got minutes and Bryce Jamison made his appearance out wide. Late on in the second half, youngster, Chris Aquino entered for Josh Atencio in the 78th minute. He looked bright and dynamic out wide and brought some danger.
There weren’t a lot of chances created outside of the one Rapids’ goal, and Colorado were content with keeping possession, picking their moments, and pressing Juarez up high. It was a first ninety with a lot of positives after the long World Cup break. Well’s side was sharp on the ball and didn’t look out of quality.
They created danger going forward but were unable to add to the advantage. The two separate backlines looked strong against a mild Juarez attack.
Late on in stoppage time the Rapids conceded. Hamzat Ojediran and the defense didn’t step and gave up a late rocket. It was a good effort from both groups, as the Rapids struggled to threaten in second half, but the defense held.
After a return to play, the focus on the night was giving minutes to players who won’t regularly see the field during MLS play. The Rapids 2 kids impressed on the night. Overall, the Rapids looked good on the night. They kept the ball well and created a lot of danger in the attacking third. Wells and this group will be itching to return to normal play.
The last thirty minutes of the match was absolute madness, and it was no longer such a Colorado Rapids friendly. Wells seemed to have an altercation with the Juarez bench, and after a hard foul, the two teams confronted each other at midfield.
“Listen, it was a heated game from the start,” Wells said on the midfield scuffle.
“I think there was a lot of feisty challenges and a lot of aggression on the pitch, which I personally love. I think that’s really good for us. We need to be exposed to that; it’s an area of our game where we can be stronger.”
This resulted in a Rafael Navarro red card and a chippy end to a Colorado Rapids friendly.
“On the whole, I was pleasantly pleased surprised tonight,” Wells said.
“It’s a travesty our league position, and we’ve all got to be committed in that dressing room to be changing because the quality and caliber of the football we are playing and we’ve got to combine that with winning.”
Despite the madness, Colorado looked comfortable and getting closer to match readiness. Colorado faces off against Minnesota United next week in a closed scrimmage before returning to MLS play on July 22 at home against San Diego.
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Matt Pollard 