For the first time since 2023 when former coach Robin Fraser was let go, the Colorado Rapids are winless in four MLS games.
The latest was a loss came in heartbreaking fashion against the Vancouver Whitecaps, when Ryan Gauld found Damir Kreilach behind the defense after a throw-in for an easy winner in second half stoppage time. Rapids keeper Zack Steffen got a leg to it, but the ball trickled in as slowly as it could have to seal a 2-1 win for the Whitecaps.
Vancouver struck first within a minute of the second half starting after Gauld put in an awkward cross to Sebastian Berhalter at the far post. Steffen was caught in between two minds to stay home or go for the ball while Jackson Travis — who made his first MLS start — was caught a step behind the play as Berhalter buried it at a tight angle.
Djordje Mihailovic tied it up soon after with a first-time shot from the penalty spot on a square pass from Omir Fernández in the 50th minute.
With just one point from the Rapids’ past four games, perhaps there is no better time for a two-week international break before returning to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to take on former Rapid Diego Rubio and Austin FC on June 15.
Here are three takeaways from another disappointing Rapids loss:
Armas shocked at penalty reversal
Rapids coach Chris Armas doesn’t think the Rapids get the “respect that they earn and deserve,” especially when it comes to officiating.
Another instance of a questionable call against his team came in the 34th minute, when Kévin Cabral was taken down in the penalty box after colliding with a Whitecaps defender. A penalty was called initially, but a brief VAR review overturned it.
“Our guys have had a lot of decisions this year in terms of fouls and penalties and goals, and I’ll be curious once again,” Armas said in the opening statement of his press conference following the match. “When you look at the play with Kévin Cabral, he gets in one-on-one and goes knee-to-knee with a guy.
“They determined it was clear and obvious (that it wasn’t a penalty). These things determine games. We see contact there and it looks really close. But we’ve been on the wrong end of these things.”
While the Rapids have had multiple penalty calls overturned and some that could have been called but were not, they currently rank first in MLS in penalties attempted with seven.
Mihailovic scores in second straight match
Mihailovic has been a positive option for the Rapids all season, particularly with his eye for passing and pinpoint service on set pieces.
Now, he’s starting to find some goalscoring form.
It took six games just to find a goal contribution, then he went off for two goals and an assist in a home win against LAFC. Since then, he’s had a steady stream of assists at a rate of one for every two games. In his last four games, he’s scored in three. Over 11 matches, he’s contributed to 11 goals.
“We’re going to get on his shoulders. We’re going to go as Djordje Mihailovic goes,” Armas said. “He can take over a game, he can break down back lines, he draws fouls, arrives at the right minutes in the box and he helps us score goals in many ways. And you can see defensively, too, it was a top performance. He kept us organized.”
Travis solid in first MLS start
Rapids rookie left back Jackson Travis had only played 29 minutes across two games all year, both appearances off the bench. But Armas gave him the nod against Vancouver in Sam Vines’ place and he put in a nervy, but solid hour of play against the Whitecaps.
For the most part, Travis looked good. Some nervousness is to be expected, but Armas was pleased with the effort on display.
According to right back and team captain Keegan Rosenberry, part of what earned him that kind of love from Armas was the way he trained Thursday despite getting back to Denver late after Wednesday’s match in Houston.
“He was confident and sharp and I told him before the game to play just like that, like you belong. And he did that,” Rosenberry said. “It’s difficult to get your first start. … That was all I could ask for.”
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