Commerce City, Colo. – For the first time ever, Colorado Rapids have won the Rocky Mountain Cup three years in a row. In what could be Rafael Navarro’s final game for the club, the Pids defeated Real Salt Lake 1-0 on Saturday at DICK’s.
For all the rumors about Navarro getting transferred to St. Louis, the Brazilian started up top. Paxten Aaronson was at right wing in a 4-3-3. Nico Hansen sustained in injury the night before so Adam Beaudry was in goal. It was his first start in MLS since March 22, 2025. Youssef Maziz got his second start in midfield.
For RSL, it was a flat 4-4-2. Diego Luna was on the bench for Pablo Mastroeni.
It was all Rapids in the first half. Maziz and Hamzat Ojediran both had chances in the opening minutes. Aaronson was lively on right with his service. Georgi Minoungou played direct to goal. He had something to play for given the transfer window.
Navarro was engaged as well. He did well on the ball and had a header from a corner. The best chance of the half came in the 28th minute. Minoungou had a shot across goal that was saved well by goalkeeper Rafa Cabral.
RSL didn’t do much going forward. Sam Junqua had a knockdown header on a corner that looked scary but was wide of goal.
The second half was more of the same. RSL kept it compact and pressed strategically. It got chipper as well. Rob Holding got an early yellow card in the half. Colorado dealt with the free kick that followed. It was the first of four cautions in an 18 minute span.
It was just a matter of if Colorado could break down the defense or if RSL could do something threatening in transition.
Colorado fittingly broke the deadlock in the 58th minute. Just like against SKC, it was Reggie Cannon on a header at the back post. It was once again Youssef Maziz with the service. The bench made a last second change putting Cannon in position instead of Wayne Frederick II.
RSL really only had two chances to equalize. There was a 3-on-2 counter in the 86th off a Rapids corner. Substitute Donavan Phillip back checked and slid in to win the ball without fouling. There was a cross across goal on the final kick of the game as well. Diego Luna could have had a breakaway late in the game as well but Adam Beaudry won the race to the ball.
Colorado could have made it two to be fair. Navarro had a lob over the bar in the final minutes. That would have been a sweet sendoff. A few other players had half chances. The match ended 1-0. Colorado retained the RMC on the tiebreaker as the current holders.
Rocky Mountain Cup Derby Delight:
First time Colorado has retained the RMC three years in a row. Colorado’s only other streak with the Cup was the first two years. Granted the last two years, Colorado’s retained the trophy on the tie breaker as the current holder. I’ve often called this rule dumb. RSL has had plenty of years where they won the cup with a tie on aggregate points and goals. But it goes both ways. Fantastic night for the club. And Rapids Unified won as well!
“We transmitted that energy to the crowd. It’s brilliant that we could have a moment like that to lift a trophy with the fans. The next one we aim for is the U.S. Open Cup,” Matt Wells told Burgundy Wave.
RSL were so bad. RSL fans are upset on social media. Pablo Mastroeni played a flat 4-4-2, played for a draw or maybe nicking it 0-1.
“To be able to lift it at home in front of the fans, it brings that little extra togetherness that we need in this part of the season,” added Aaronson.
Goodbye Rafael Navarro:
Matt Wells did not take questions on Navarro postgame. But look at how the player reacted to being subbed off. After the match he went into the supporters group and was hugging fans. Given what we saw earlier this month with Lucas Herrington, it seems like Rafa is gone and he knows it. We wrote about that more here and here.
Regardless, Navarro was a dog in this game. Started. Went almost 90 minutes. Captained the side. Took defenders on, drew fouls. Tried to score. Navarro has got that dog in him. He went out professionally.
Matt Wells said postgame that he is expecting at least two players signed before the window closes. That could be Sayed Abu Farkhi, a DP winger, and a GAM move within the league.
“I have only Miguel Navarro now with me. That’s life. That’s football,” said Ojediran.
“I can’t speak highly enough of (Rafa Navarro). Nobody I’ve played with has the same mentality and attitude that this guy has. It’s out of my control. I can only give full respect to him. One of the best players I’ve ever worked with,” said Aaronson.
Cannon, Maziz, Beaudry and five clean sheets:
Hansen got an injury during Friday training. Beaudry did well in goal even though he didn’t have much to do. The defense in front of him did well. Five home clean sheets in a row. First time the club has done that since 2004. They’ve been consistent. They’ve simplified it at the back. They have given bad teams nothing. RSL had one touch in the box to Colorado’s 28.
“You never want to see a teammate go down like that. You just got to stay ready,” said Beaudry. “It’s a good challenge for me. It’s something you’ve been watching as a little kid. To be able to hold (the Rocky Mountain Cup) for the first time, it’s very special.”
“We don’t score as much, but we definitely don’t concede at home. When the two of those gel together, it’s the perfect storm, the momentum that we have at home,” added Aaronson.
Cannon with two goals this month. He’s done well defensively as well. And he’s showing his leadership at the back. Well done.
“He’s been brilliant since the break. He’s made a massive shift in his mindset. I was constantly pushing him. It’s a good sign. There was room for growth. Credit to him. Since the break, this is a different Reggie,” Wells said, complimenting the player.
Maziz with four appearances. And other than the San Diego game (where nobody played well), he’s been good. Creative on the ball. He’s creating chances for others. Two assists in two games and he’s created the own goal. Great set piece service. Ojediran is jokingly calling him Zizu.
Colorado travel next week to Columbus Crew next weekend. Kickoff is 5:30 pm MT.
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Spencer Baldwin 
Eamon Shaw 