Player Ratings: Rapids Suffer Defeat to St. Louis in the U.S. Open Cup Semifinal

Commerce City, Colo.- The Rapids were knocked out of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night, suffering a 3-0 defeat at home to St. Louis. Colorado came into the match with phenomenal home form, but St. Louis continued their hot unbeaten streak. 

It was Colorado’s biggest home match since 2021, and the chance to get into a cup final and win silverware. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. Adam Beaudry had a few horror moments, and Colorado’s attack struggled to create. 

Attention now shifts to Saturday’s home match against Seattle Sounders. 

Adam Beaudry 

Beaudry got the nod to start at keeper again, putting together some decent performances. He had an absolute disaster in the 32nd minute, when he attempted to take a touch forward, lost the ball and left a tap-in for St. Louis to open the scoring. A bad mistake. 4/10

Reggie Cannon

Not a terrible night for Cannon, despite the scoreline. He pressed well, was energetic, and had his moments to get forward. He was caught out a few times in transition, and St. Louis was able to punish the Rapids defensive mistakes. 5/10

Rob Holding

No red card for Holding in this fixture, but it wasn’t a standout defensive performance either. He defended well in moments, but there were still far too many spaces for St. Louis to take advantage of. 5/10

Loic Williams

Williams was good in possession, but a tough night overall out of possession. Colorado seemed to give up once St. Louis put in the second goal. Williams also received another yellow card on the night. 5/10

Miguel Navarro

A consistent night for Navarro. He inverted into the middle in possession and defended ok in moments. Going forward, he found some joy out wide, but it wasn’t good enough. Navarro came off in the 70th minute. 5/10

Wayne Frederick

Again, Frederick was paired alongside Hamzat Ojediran in the midfield. It was a difficult night, but he pressed well and won the ball back in good areas. Frederick just lacked that final quality in the attacking third. 6/10

Hamzat Ojediran

Ojediran performed decently on the night. He got into pockets between the lines and controlled the tempo of the game. After St. Louis scored, they started to find more space and joy going forward through the midfield. Ojediran came off in the 63rd minute. 6/10

Paxten Aaronson 

Aaronson has been influential for the Rapids going forward, but against St. Louis, he was almost nullified. He had trouble creating chances and getting into good forward areas. His energy and work rate were a bright spot. 6/10

Morgan Whittaker

A first start for the new burgundy boy. He pressed well in moments, but really struggled to impact the game quite like fans would expect. There were a few flashes of brilliance, but a poor offensive night. 6/10

Georgi Minoungou

Minoungou got the start again, but wasn’t impactful enough on the night. There is still a lack of quality in the final third. Defensively, he tracked back and impacted on that side, but nowhere near the level needed. 5/10

Darren Yapi

Yapi got the nod at the nine again for the Rapids against St. Louis. He could have had a few good looks at the goal, but a poor night on the offensive side. The goals have to start coming from somewhere for Colorado. 5/10

Substitutes

Sayed Abu Farki

Abu Farki came on in the 63rd minute for Ojediran to try to give the Rapids some more in attack. He was in the right spaces and pockets, but he’ll need more impact going forward. 5/10

Keegan Rosenberry, Jackson Travis, Donavan Phillip, Noah Cobb subbed on too late to be judged fairly.

Matt Wells

Wells has done an excellent job throughout the Open Cup getting Colorado prepared and into a spot that they could fight for silverware. Tonight, the mentality and the quality just wasn’t at the level of a championship team. 

It’s an opportunity missed for the club. The Rapids continue to struggle after going down a goal first. Whether that’s a mentality thing from Wells or it’s the players, something has got to change going forward. The attacking threat has stifled. 

Wells has to get this team playing free-flowing attacking football again soon. There’s nine games left in the MLS regular season, and then it’s playoffs from there. Time is running out for the new signings and for things to start looking positive. 6/10

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