Commerce City, Colo. – The Colorado Rapids got just want the doctor ordered on Saturday night. A scoreline that fit the performance. Another result against a team they needed a win against. A debut from a player who made an impact. It was a massive start to a three-game week.
Despite the cryptic Instagram story this week, Rafael Navarro started at striker and was captain. Rob Holding and Loïc Williams were at center back. Wayne Frederick II was in midfield with Hamzat Ojediran on the bench.
For Sporting, Calvin Harrison started in his first game at DICK’s since departing the club in January as a free agent.
The Rapids dominated the first half. Matt Wells had to be happy with everything but the score. An xG of 1.12 to 0.36 for SKC, with 70% of the ball. In the third minute, Georgi Minoungou picked Moisés Mosquera off in the box but shot over the bar. Later in the half, Paxten Aaronson won a free kick then found Rob Holding in the air but the shot was wide.
Minoungou, Sealy, and Navarro all had shot in traffic that were blocked or wide. There were several sequences where players elected to pass instead of shoot first time. Aaronson hit the crossbar on another direct free kick.
SKC was not without their chances. Harris uncorked one from outside the box that goalkeeper Nico Hansen spiked down. Harris had a screamer across goal late in the half.
The match was altered in the 38th minute. For the second straight match, SKC had a straight red card. Colorado broke out off a Sporting corner. Miguel Navarro and Kwaku Agyabeng raced for a loose ball. Agyabeng went to ground with a slide tackle, cleaning Navarro out. It was a straight red. The half ended 0-0.
The second half played out as expected. SKC were in a flat 4-4-1 with numbers behind the ball. Colorado moved the ball from side to side. Breaking down a low block has been a struggle in the past two home games.
There were a bunch of half chances. Frederick hit the crossbar on a corner. Youssef Maziz subbed on in the 56th for his Rapids debut. He kept the Rapids debut goal contribution streak going. In the 65th minute, he took a corner to the far post. Reggie Cannon had a knockdown header. It was his first goal since his debut in 2024.
The match opened up after the goal. SKC had a 3-on-2 counter but Harris couldn’t connect on the pass. He later had a breakaway, but he hit the post. Rafael Navarro was set up by Minoungou but he couldn’t get the shot on target.
Cannon drew a DOGSO red card, chasing down a ball in stoppage time. Moisés Mosquera took him down from behind. SKC were down to nine men. Navarro and Aaronson put the game away, combining for a tap in in transition in the fifth minute of stoppage time. The game ended 2-0.
Debut FC does it again!
Lucas Herrington and Hamzat Ojediran scored in their home debuts against Portland. Kosi Thompson had a debut brace against Houston. Georgi Minoungou debuted in that game as well with an assist. Loïc Williams scored a few weeks ago in his debut, a 1-0 against San Diego.
Now Maziz has an assist in his debut. Well done. He looked good from the run of play. He was unconventional and refreshing. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come.
“It was a nice introduction for him. The context of the game (the red card) had shifted a little bit. He showed his quality. His set play quality is outstanding. He was half a yard away from scoring a very good goal. He’s still got a way to go physically,” Wells said of Maziz.
Reggie Cannon makes a statement:
There’s been competition at right back this season. Thompson brings the energy and is the most attacking. Keegan Rosenberry is an experienced leader but the oldest player on the team.
Cannon is good at many things but does not excel at anything. He was good in possession combining with Sealy. The goal was great. The hustle and physicality was there. Great effort to draw the second red card. Miguel Navarro has been excellent at left back. Colorado needs the contributions from both fullbacks come October.
“It’s a really good feeling. To help the team in that moment where things weren’t clicking tonight in front of goal. That offensive side is something every defender loves to add to their game. Adding that on set pieces, I’m very happy,” Cannon said postgame.
“The first half of the season, for me personally, just was’t the level I was accustomed to, figuring out this new system, the new role I was meant to play. Now the second half, the team is clicking on all cylinders. Especially defensively. I feel very confident in my role.”
Dominating everywhere but the scoreboard:
The Rapids have played four games since the World Cup break. One loss on the road down a man. Three wins against non-playoff teams at home. They’ve controlled the game, “dominated” to use the Matt Wells word.
That said, they’ve been close scorelines. Navarro’s stoppage time goal was great icing on an ok cake. This team can’t keep underperforming their xG? First multi-goal game since the Mile High game vs Miami. That’s good.
“It’s almost a moment of opening the flood gates. You can see by the xG metrics, they’re doing everything that’s asked of them. It hasn’t clicked. We’re getting them in the right spots. We’re giving them positive energy. When it does open it’s going to be really good for the team. When they don’t score somebody else is going to step up. That’s what’s been happening,” said Cannon.
“I’d be a lot more concerned if the statistics of the game were that we didn’t deserve to score. When we click in front of goal, there’s another Houston-style performance where we scored six. If we keep it where we’ve been… I don’t think it will be too long before we click in front of goal,” added Wells.
Colorado play two games next week. On Wednesday they are home to LAFC. Then Saturday they are at San Diego.
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Zach Lowy 