The Colorado Rapids dropped their second-straight match Wednesday night, this time falling 2-1 to Minnesota United FC.
The loss was unlucky as the 89th-minute cross that went off Rapids defender Lalas Abubakar’s head and into his own net to decide the match. Minnesota outshot Colorado and generated a lot of traffic, but the Rapids turned in a stronger performance than last Saturday, which was their first match after a month-long layoff due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
A step forward
After getting blown out 4-0 against Kansas City last weekend, the Rapids came out strong in Minnesota, generating a couple of good scoring chances early. Down in the second half, Andre Shinyashiki equalized, but Colorado couldn’t hold on.
“I thought our movement was better, the ideas came to us faster, the execution was better and as a result, we were able to have long stretches in the game where we have really good control,” Fraser said. “Think about in comparison to last week, we were so good and efficient with the ball that it certainly made it difficult for them early on.”
Ultimately, the Rapids not cashing in on their early chances was just as detrimental as Abubakar’s own goal near the end of the match.
“The scoreline hurts and it’s still zero points but we’re showing improvement and that’s important as well,” Shinyashiki said. “We knew it wasn’t gonna be easy coming back from this month-and-a-half break, but we can’t have anymore excuses. We have to start winning games if we want to make the playoffs.”
Playoff picture
Decision Day is 11 days away and MLS has yet to set the parameters for how it will decide the eight playoff teams in the West.
Due to the Rapids’ coronavirus outbreak, they’ve played significantly fewer matches than their peers. In addition to not yet determining if the playoffs will be picked by total points or points per match, the league has not specified if the Rapids will make up any of their five postponed matches.
“We have to approach it like every game we’re trying to win,” Fraser said. “Regardless of what the method is to decide how the playoff structure is, we know we need points.”
The likely scenario is that the Rapids will have three matches in eight days starting Sunday to finish their regular season. MLS will likely use points per game to determine seeding and who makes the playoffs. As of now, the Rapids would make the playoffs in that scenario.
Sunday’s match against Seattle will be the final home game of the season, with games at Portland and Houston closing things out. At the bare minimum, the Rapids likely need four points to make the playoffs, and six points would all but guarantee it.
“The 22 guys in the locker room believe that we are a playoff team, now we just have to go out and show it to everybody else,” Shinyashiki said. “If we win two of the three games we are most likely in the playoffs.”
Makeshift midfield
Both Kellyn Acosta and his backup Collen Warner missed the match with injuries. Fraser downplayed the severity of the injuries earlier this week. Either of them could be back for the stretch run.
For Wednesday’s game, the Rapids had to get creative surrounding Jack Price with Younes Namli and Cole Bassett. Namli and Bassett are capable midfielders but have played more attacking roles recently. Starting the offensively-minded players did shorten Colorado’s bench a little bit, but nobody was out of place.
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