Columbus, Ohio – Five straight home wins and three new signings could not stop the Colorado Rapids road woes this weekend. Saturday night saw them play at Columbus Crew. It was a disappointment for the Burgundy Boys in every aspect.
Colorado Rapids Head Coach Matt Wells rotated a bit. Nico Hansen was still out with a leg injury, so Adam Beaudry started at goalkeeper again. Noah Cobb made his first league start since the season opener at Seattle. He was at right back in a back four with all three right backs on the bench. With Rafael Navarro sold and the new signings not yet available, Darren Yapi started up top.
For the home side, new signing Santi Rodriguez started. Josef Martinez was at center forward.
The first half was a shocker for the Pids based on their recent form. They had no less than eight passes that were off target that led to turnovers. The pressing energy wasn’t there. They were disorganized at the back and could have given up multiple howlers. Rob Holding and Loïc Williams had miscommunications. Yapi’s positioning wasn’t great. Youssef Maziz wasn’t on the same page with those around him.
Columbus scored in the 22nd minute. Josef Martinez appeared to be offside in transition. Rob Holding conceded a corner, clearing the ball anyways. Colorado players wanted offsides called but it was not. Beaudry punched out the initial ball. It fell to an open Rodriguez at the top of the box. He headed it into an open goal with Beaudry out of position.
Colorado had a decent reaction. Paxten Aaronson had a breakaway set up by Wayne Frederick. Brooks Lennon caught up and shrugged him off to win the ball. Yapi almost had a sliding tap in set up Aaronson but he shanked it. Cobb uncorked a shot off a defender that was just wide of the post. MLS had Colorado’s xG at 0.8 to the Crew’s 0.3 to be fair.
Columbus could have had a penalty at the end of the half. Rodriguez cut across Josh Atencio in the box and the two knocked knees. Santi was already jumping to go down before the contact. He was given a yellow card for simulation.
Things did not get better to start the half. Josef Martinez had a double chance in the 51st. Beaudry made a good safe on the first. Martinez smashed the rebound off the crossbar. Mo Farsi could have scored a banger minutes later, but was called offside. He put the ball over the bar.
Matt Wells made a triple sub on the hour mark. Kosi Thompson, Reggie Cannon, and Alex Harris all came on. Harris played at center forward with Yapi moved out to the right. It was an opportunity squandered by Yapi with Rafael Navarro sold and the new signings not yet available.
The match slowed down after that. Aaronson had a free kick won by Harris in 70th. The shot was wide. Aaronson later went down with an injury and was subbed off.
Minoungou had a few chances that were either straight at the keeper or well wide. Columbus got their insurance goal through a wonder trivela from Gonzalo Tapia. There was nothing Beaudry could do. Taha Habroune scored in stoppage time. The match ended 3-0.
Road form vs home form: Or is it conceding first?
Colorado’s played three road games since the World Cup break. Three losses. Three disappointing performances. This might be the worst. The pressing was bad. They didn’t look like themselves. It was so easy for Columbus to play in transition. They were disjointed in attack. The energy and pressing were poor. Two shots on target.
“Tonight was a technical disaster,” said Wells.
This team’s won five home games in a row with five clean sheets. In that same stretch, they have lost all three road games, with seven conceded and none scored.
How are they that good at home and so much worse on the road? Three games is enough of a sample size that there’s something to this. And for it to happen against a Crew team that’s bottom of the Eastern Conference. Unacceptable.
“When we score first, we’re one team. We concede first we’re a different team. I thought that was evident again this evening.
“In what team sport can you be successful if you can’t perform when there’s a little bit of adversity or you’re behind in a game? It’s my biggest frustration… It’s something we have to address. Until we address it, it’s impossible for us to achieve our objectives.”
The depth was lacking. The new signings can’t get here soon enough.
Matt Wells coached this game with one arm tied behind his back. Navarro had left for St. Louis. None of the three signings have gotten their visas yet. This was a chance for players to step up.
Wells’ substitutions said it all. All three right backs on the bench came on. Then it was bench attackers Alex Harris and Donavan Phillips, who played out of position.
Wells confirmed to Burgundy Wave that Hansen is not training with the team yet. He could be back for Austin on Wednesday and certainly is expected back next weekend. Aaronson is not an injury concern.
Noah Cobb was admirable at right back out of position. Josh Atencio was poor in possession with Hamzat Ojediran suspended. Aaronson didn’t do much. This was the first game Maziz looked like a new player getting to know his teammates. Minoungou tried to make things happen but hasn’t executed since May.
Darren Yapi wasted his opportunity.
Tonight was particularly disappointing for Yapi. He got the start with Navarro gone. He’s sat behind the Brazilian for three years. Done well in substitute appearances. He had a good spell as a winger in the spring. He hasn’t had a good game in months. Had one big chance, didn’t finish. Looked out of position. He and Minoungou could have made a statement with their performance.
“I thought he was in line with everyone else. It’s not about individuals. We were below par as a team,” Wells said when asked about Yapi.
The new signings can’t get here soon enough. I wouldn’t be shocked if Yapi and Minoungou don’t get another start this year once the three new guys are acclimated.
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Spencer Baldwin 
Eamon Shaw 