Rapids Flame Out in Dallas: Fails to Make MLS Cup Playoff

Frisco, Texas – For the second year in a row, the Colorado Rapids will miss out on competing in the MLS Cup playoffs. Not one of eight possible scenarios to advance panned out for Colorado on Saturday night.

Coming into the match, they controlled their fate. A rare road victory would have sealed the deal. Last year, under Chris Armas, they tied LAFC on Decision Day. On Saturday, it was a 3-1 landslide at FC Dallas that slammed the door shut on the Burgundy Boys and their first-year coach Matt Wells.

The loss, in combination with Seattle’s decisive 2-1 win over LAFC, finished off the Rapids’ efforts to secure a single-elimination Wildcard Playoff match.

Despite a valiant post-World Cup effort by the executive team to try to upgrade the roster, the newcomers didn’t deliver on the organization’s goal to make and go deep into this year’s playoffs. Injuries only compounded their chances to move on into postseason play.

First half:

Wells started with his familiar 4-3-3 lineup. Notably missing were Giorgio Minoungou and Rob Holding. Both were on the bench. Minoungou was nursing a mild hamstring injury, while Rob was ‘out-practiced’ by Noah Hobb this week, who was rewarded with a start.

For the most part, the hosts dominated the first half. They were better organized and expressed their desire to win from the get-go. Dallas took 16 shots, four of which were on target.

Colorado was unable to effectively combine either down the sidelines or through the midfield. They appeared sluggish, if not disjointed. Their offense was dull. For a game with such significance, Colorado’s attacking side downright failed to deliver. They had no shots on goal in the opening 49 minutes of play.

All in all, the Rapids were very lucky not to be down 2-nil at the close of the first half.

Second half:

Coming out of their changing room, the visitors knew that a victory was necessary as their closest playoff foe for the last playoff spot, Seattle, was up 2-0 at halftime in a packed Lumen Field nonetheless.

Without hesitation, Wells inserted Georgi Minoungou and Darren Yapi before the second-half start whistle blew.

The substitutes paid immediate dividends for their skipper.

In the 47th minute, a fast-paced Minoungou brought the ball down the left side of the pitch and slid it across the face of a wide-open goal right to the left foot of an oncoming Morgan Whittaker. The entertaining Englishman slapped the ball silly and into the back of the net.

The Rapids’ newfound momentum continued through the 65th minute of play when Darren Yapi apparently scored from the top of the box. Unfortunately, his goal was disallowed because of an offside call.

Dallas’ mood turned hyper-aggressive. They finally scored in the 74th minute when winger Joaquín Valiente scooped up a lob and nutmegged Rapids keeper Nico Hansen, who had been stellar up to that moment.

Dallas continued to test Hansen. In the 88th minute, they scored on a drive by Kaick da Silva Ferreira and again in the 92nd minute, when Santiago Moreno added another goal.

Not even an additional 11 minutes of stoppage time could help Colorado. Dallas prevailed to win 3-1 before a small yet spirited crowd at Toyota Stadium.

“We didn’t make the playoffs because of tonight. You know, there’s no shame in going to the team second in the league, second in the league for a reason, and for the first time in a long time, getting absolutely dominated,” said Wells during his post-game press conference.

He added: “There’s plenty of moments where we had good control over games, and then we show a naivety or an immaturity, and we let those slip. So we’ll be better for that next season.”

And with the heart-wrenching loss, the Rapids fall out of playoff contention and tumble down the table to 12th place.

Some initial offseason thoughts:

The team and members of the Front Office will now undergo another round of season-ending exit interviews, player and personnel evaluations and hours of self-reflection.

Wells sees progress made: “I want to go into playoffs with a feeling that we can compete in the playoffs and we can succeed in the playoffs. And I don’t have that feeling. We are where we are as a team. We’ve built some strong foundations.”

The MLS Sprint Season kicks off in February 2027 and will consist of an abridged 14-game intra-conference schedule.

The top eight finishers in each conference will earn qualification for the Audi 2027 single-elimination MLS Cup Playoffs in May, as well as spots in the 2028 Concacaf Champions Cup and 2028 Leagues Cup.

Until then, the Rapids will lick their wounds, grieve and regroup until their Sprint Season camp formally opens.

As for Colorado’s pious fans, they will hit the Forgive and Forget button once again and hope for a better outcome for all in the very near future.

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