The Colorado Rapids were able to get three table points out of their back-to-back away game stretch this March.

New York City FC

In their first away game against New York City FC, the Rapids lost 3-1. Colorado was once again without starting goalkeeper Zack Steffen, one among a plethora of lineup changes coming off a 4-1 victory against the LA Galaxy.

Within the first 45 minutes, NYCFC striker Nicolas Fernandez put the ball into the back of the net twice.

Rapids forward Darren Yapi cut New York’s lead in half before the interval, but even that was not enough to put Colorado back into the game.

In the 86th minute, NYCFC substitute Talles Magno scored his squad’s third goal, effectively putting the game out of reach.

Sporting KC

Steffen made his return to the pitch the following week in Kansas City, as the formation and starting 11 looked more familiar.

Rapids No. 10 Paxten Aaronson scored his first goal of the season just 12 minutes into the game.

In the 44th minute, KC leveled the match after a Magomed Suleymanov goal, but three minutes later, Colorado answered with 21-year-old midfielder Wayne Frederick’s first career MLS goal.

In the 71st minute, Rapids striker Rafael Navarro finished off a string of passes with a tap-in goal, his third of the season. Four minutes later, Aaronson capped off his brace, which extended the lead to three.

In a span of three games, the Rapids scored four goals twice, a number that was impossible to reach last year.

Through the first five games, Colorado is 3-2 and currently sits in seventh place in the Western Conference with nine table points. The two losses came against the Seattle Sounders and NYCFC, both of which were predicted to be playing late into November.

Although at first it doesn’t seem like an impressive start, it’s clear that head coach Matt Wells has transformed this squad into a well-oiled machine.

The new system has allowed Colorado’s attack to reach heights many didn’t know it could reach. The Rapids big three, Navarro, Yapi and Aaronson, have already combined for seven goals. The offense is set to continue growing as the season goes on, and if it continues to develop as it has, the Rapids could have a very impressive 2026.

The MLS is currently on a break due to the FIFA International Break, but the Rapids return on April 4, visiting Toronto FC and former burgundy boy, Djordje Mihailovic. The game begins at 11 a.m. MT will broadcast on Apple TV.

The Colorado Rapids (2-0-1) defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy (1-1-1) 4-1 on Saturday following a great display of offense in the second half. Striker Rafael Navarro scored a brace en route to a dominating win.

New Rapids head coach Matt Wells elected to give Darren Yapi the start at winger instead of Alex Harris. Starting goalkeeper Zack Steffen was out with a back injury, so Nico Hansen stepped in between the sticks. Last season, Hansen impressed in his 10 appearances and earned a 2-year contract extension in the off-season with club options through 2030.

With the captain, Steffen, on the sideline, Wells chose Navarro to take the armband for the first time as a Rapid.

“Really special night for Rafa tonight. Such a perfect guy to lead us,” Keegan Rosenberry, a former Colorado captain, said of Navarro. “The obvious language barrier is there. It speaks more about people when you don’t need a language to understand their character, their intention.”

The game was even through the first 20 minutes. Both teams had equal control of the ball, but neither had produced the first goal-scoring opportunity.

In the 23rd minute, Yapi received the ball at midfield and took on four Galaxy defenders by himself. He drove into the box and slotted the ball past Los Angeles’ keeper to give Colorado the lead.

For the remainder of the first half, neither team created another chance as good as Yapi’s. Hansen denied two shots from LA that could have been trouble to protect the advantage.

In the 11th minute of the second period, Galaxy winger Gabriel Pec out-skilled the Colorado backline. He played a perfectly placed cross to striker Joao Klauss, who punched the ball into the net to level the game.

Following the goal from Klauss, Los Angeles had momentum and felt their second goal was soon to come. In the 59th minute, Pec was close behind Navarro and attempted to tackle the forward. Pec received his second yellow card for the play which reduced the Galaxy to 10 men.

Colorado followed by scoring three times in 15 minutes, starting in the 75th with Alexis Manyoma’s first goal with the squad.

Ten minutes later, Rosenberry powered a shot towards goal, which was first denied by LA’s keeper but then rebounded into the net by Navarro. It was his first goal of the season.

Then, four minutes after that, Colorado midfielder Wayne Frederick stole the ball near the penalty box and laid it to Navarro, who capped off his brace with a brilliant finish into the top left bin.

“Some good storylines in terms of players stepping up,” Wells said following the win. “All around, I’d say some good storylines on that front. A real team effort this morning.”

The Colorado Rapids head to Yankee Stadium to take on New York City FC (2-1-0) on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. MT. (MLS Season Pass via Apple TV). Through three games, NYCFC sits in first place in the Eastern Conference.

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The Colorado Rapids opened their home season with a tone-setting win against the Portland Timbers last Saturday. Colorado controlled the game for the full 90 minutes and finished with a 2-0 win.

Rapids head coach Matt Wells elected to run a 4-3-3 formation with Rob Holding as the veteran centerback and Alex Harris as a winger instead of Darren Yapi.

The changes from matchday one immediately paid off in the 7th minute, as defensive midfielder Hamzat Ojerdiran scored from over 20 yards out to give the Rapids their first goal of the season.

Colorado played a lot faster than they did in the loss to the Seattle Sounders on Feb. 22. The new speed of play forced the Timbers into constant errors.

Rapids centerback Nathan Herrington did not let anything get past him, and for the second week in a row, was Colorado’s best player.

“His maturity stands out for someone at his age, “Wells said of Herrington. “He’s impressed me so much through the preseason. He’s a wonderful character. I liked his personality with the ball today.”

Heading into halftime, the Rapids had a comfortable 1-0 lead. It was clear that they had the game under control, and despite two clear chances, Portland was unable to get the ball under control.

Eight minutes into the second half, Herrington capped off his stellar performance with his first goal as a Burgundy Boy.

The second half was similar to the first as Portland got anything going offensively.

In his return to Colorado, Cole Bassett was unable to make a difference besides a first-half shot. Throughout the game, Bassett and the rest of his midfield were frustrated by the Rapids, who were the better team on the pitch.

The frustration burst in the 77th minute as Portland left-back Jimer Fory played a dangerous challenge on Colorado’s Paxten Aaronson. Fory was assessed a straight redcard.

Reduced to 10-men, the Timbers had no chance of mounting a comeback within the final 13 minutes of play.

“The response from last week, the mentality [is] much closer to the identity that we want as a team,” Wells said following the win. “Still far from perfect. I’m pleased with that.”

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The new-look Colorado Rapids, led by first-year coach Matt Wells, fell short on opening day to the Seattle Sounders last Sunday. During the 2-0 loss, the new brand of soccer displayed by the Rapids looked shaky and left almost nothing to build upon.

Wells elected to run a 4-3-3 with new signings Hamzat Ojediran as the right midfielder and Dante Sealy as the right winger. Last year’s big summer transfer window move, Paxten Aaronson, played as the 10, and Rafael Navarro spearheaded the attack as the lone striker.

Colorado’s back line sent out three defenders under the age of 21: Noah Cobb, Jackson Travis and Lucas Herrington. The oldest starting defender for the Rapids was 27-year-old Reggie Cannon.

Implementing the youth was a priority for Wells, but without the necessary experience, the youth struggled in their first full match together.

Early on, it was apparent that Colorado wanted to build its attacks from the back, but Seattle’s press didn’t allow the ball to get past mid-pitch.

In the 15th minute, after controlling possession for nearly the whole start, the Sounders found their first goal of the season from an Albert Rusnak header that blew past Colorado goalie Zack Steffen.

Just three minutes later, Seattle followed with their second goal, ensuing a save by Steffen that was spilled back into play and sent into the net by midfielder Hassani Dotson. However, following a review by VAR, the goal was disallowed due to a foul to Colorado’s Darren Yapi.

In the 28th minute, Cobb received a straight red card following a reckless challenge, which reduced Colorado to 10 men. Once again, the Rapids benefitted from a VAR review as the red card was reduced to a yellow, which allowed the defender to stay in the game.

Following the challenge, the game became physical, which led to various stoppages and four Rapids players receiving yellow cards before the halftime whistle.

When the 45th minute came, the third official signaled for 12 minutes of stoppage time to be played due to both of theVAR reviews and various injury stoppages. The 12 minutes became 16 after yet another injury stoppage. Despite having 61 minutes to create a first-half chance, the Rapids didn’t havea single possession that displayed an organized offense.

In the second half, Colorado’s offense showed signs that they could threaten Seattle’s back line, but were never able to break through.

In the 62nd minute, Sounders winger Paul Rothrock blasted the ball past Steffen into the top right bin to extend the lead to two. Rothrock finished the match with a goal and an assist.

None of the Rapids players appeared to be comfortable in their new-look offense, which resulted in a tough night at the office against a formidable opponent.

“It’s unrecognizable from training,” Wells said after his first game as head coach. “We want to be a pressing team. I didn’t see any pressing. Neither was I impressed with our buildup. Second half, it was a poor imitation of ourselves, but at least I recognized it,. We as a group, me included, were way off the level that we have set.”

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The Colorado Rapids (10-6-13) have lost back-to-back must-win fixtures and now find themselves as the eighth seed in the Western Conference with five games remaining. The top seven seeds in each conference advance to the playoffs while seeds eight and nine play one game to secure the last spot.

Against the LA Galaxy (4-8-16), the worst team in the league, the Rapids laid an egg. To add insult to injury, the Galaxy started their best players on the bench, and they weren’t subbed on until the second half. The Colorado defense conceded to LA’s bench three times.

In their latest outing against Sporting Kansas City, the Burgundy Boys blew a lead and conceded three times in the last 20 minutes.

Brazilian striker Rafael Navarro has proved to be the only constant in Colorado’s season. The 25-year-old has scored 12 times in 26 appearances and has provided an additional three assists. Navarro has delivered much-needed quality to the pitch that is often lacking without him.

The addition of United States men’s national team player Paxten Aaronson has not had an immediate impact. In Aaronson’s two appearances in burgundy, he has been the best player on the pitch, but that doesn’t result in goals. The midfielder’s quality is easy to see, but when the other eight Rapids players struggle to play up to Aaronson, it results in disorganization.

The Colorado backline has been poor all year long. Head Coach Chris Armas has elected to change the defense almost every game, which has resulted in miscommunication from players due to their lack of time together.

Chidozie Awaziem was the only defender to consistently start, and he was undoubtedly Colorado’s best center-back before his transfer to FC Nantes in July. His transfer left a gaping hole in an already lackluster defense.

Defender Noah Cobb has been good in the games he has played, but it is clear his chemistry with his teammates is low since he just recently joined the squad.

Goalkeeper Zack Steffen has once again been disappointing. Sure, he got called up to the USMNT again, but has failed to do what he is paid to do: stop goals.

The Rapids will most likely make the playoffs, but the chance for a deep run is slim to none. This team, outside of Navarro and Aaronson, lacks quality. No player, besides the Designated Players, is a game-changer.

The Rapids return home to face the Houston Dynamo (8-9-12) in yet another must-win match. In their first meeting, the squads drew 2-2 after Colorado conceded in the sixth minute of second-half extra time. The game can be streamed on the MLS Season Pass via Apple TV on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. MT.

The Colorado Rapids acquired U.S. men’s national team midfielder Paxten Aaronson from the German Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt. Aaronson will work as a replacement for the recently sold Djordje Mihailovic, and will cost the club up to $8.5 million.

The 21-year-old will be the second designated player on the roster and is under contract until 2030.

“Bringing Paxten to Colorado highlights our ambition and belief in his ability to impact our team immediately,” Rapids President Padraig Smith said. “He is the exact type of young, hungry player we want to build around at this club.”

Colorado hopes that Aaronson can fill the role of Mihailovic, as he’s proven he can compete with the best in Europe. In his loan spell with FC Utrecht he bagged eight scores in 33 games.

The Rapids currently sit seventh in the West, the last spot to secure a seat in the first round of the MLS Playoffs. This ambitious purchase shows the front office’s confidence in Head Coach Chris Armas and the young squad, even though the remaining schedule is extremely tough.

Aaronson and Colorado head to Dignity Health Sports Park to take on the reigning MLS champions, the LA Galaxy (3-7-16). The match will stream on the MLS Season Pass via Apple TV on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. MT.

The Colorado Rapids (10-6-11) defeated Atlanta United (4-10-12) 3-1 behind a stellar performance from striker Rafael Navarro. The attacker contributed to all three goals by scoring two and assisting another.

Colorado Head Coach Chris Armas elected to use a 3-4-3 lineup with Navarro as the primary striker.

In the 18th minute, Navarro headered a lob pass to attacker Darren Yapi, who bounced the ball into the back of the net to give the Rapids the lead. The Colorado native has three goals in the last two games.

Atlanta responded two minutes later after Aleksei Miranchuk shot a perfect curler into the bottom left bin to level the match.

At the end of the half, the game was tied, but it was clear that Atlanta was outworking Colorado. The Rapids were constantly giving up possession, and various players were visibly upset.

Seven minutes into the second half, Navarro was chopped down in the penalty area and ultimately awarded a penalty kick. On the ensuing spot, he powered the ball into the back of the net to give Colorado the lead. Then, in the 71st minute, Navarro struck again and blasted a shot through the keeper for his 11th regular-season score.

“He’s relentless. I’ve been around a few good ones, but he’s the best,” Head Coach Armas said about Navarro. “I’m thrilled for him because he’s at the happiest when he scores.”

Former Atlanta player Noah Cobb had a standout performance on defense for the Rapids, not allowing a single threatening attack in the last 15 minutes of play.

After the matchup, the Rapids invited the fans onto the pitch to celebrate the retirement of defender Marcelo Balboa’s No. 17. Balboa is a member of the Soccer Hall of Fame and was a Burgundy Boy from 1996 to 2001. In his time with Colorado, the defender appeared in 124 games and scored 24 times, including the first goal in Rapids history. Balboa was Colorado’s first franchise star and is only the second player to have their number immortalized at Dicks Sporting Goods Park.

The Rapids head to Los Angeles to take on the Galaxy (3-7-16) on Saturday. In their first meeting, they were able to beat LA 2-0 behind goals from Djordje Mihailovic and Calvin Harris. The game can be streamed on the MLS Season Pass via Apple TV on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. MT.

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The Colorado Rapids (9-11-6) defeated Minnesota United FC (12-6-8) 2-1 thanks to striker Darren Yapi’s first career MLS brace. Although Minnesota statistically dominated the game, Yapi was able to score two goals in rapid succession.

In their first meaningful game since the transfer of ace Djordje Mihailovic, Colorado Head Coach Chris Armas elected to use a 3-4-3 lineup with Rafael Navarro as the striker along with Calvin Harris and Yapi as support wingers. Reggie Cannon and Sam Vines worked as wingbacks to move to a five-man backline when defending and a four-man midfield when attacking.

The Rapids spent the first 30 minutes of the game in their half of the field. Although Minnesota’s attackers were getting into the 18-yard box easily, the defenders were forcing tough shots which resulted in routine Zack Steffen saves.

Through 45 minutes, they stood level, but Colorado failed to create a single opportunity that could have resulted in a goal.

In the 55th minute, a Minnesota defender nearly headed a ball into the back of the net, but was denied by a diving Steffen.

Five minutes later, Vines found Yapi up the left side of the pitch, and he did the rest. The attacker drove his defenders into the box and curled a shot into the bottom right bin to score the first goal. Then, in the 70th minute, Navarro found an unmarked Yapi on a counterattack that resulted in his second goal in 10 minutes. The Colorado native now has a career-high six goals on the season.

“We knew that guys needed to step up,” Yapi said. “We can't just sit back and say, oh, we lost Djordje [Mihailovic], it’s over. We have to just keep going and take these games.”

In the 73rd minute, Minnesota’s Tani Oluwaseyi buried a ball into the top corner of the net to bring the deficit down to one and to give his team hope for the final 17 minutes of play.

Despite spending most of the game on the defensive, the Rapids created better chances in the final minutes of play.

“We come to win,” Armas said after the game. “We don't play it safe, home or away, and it's always about attacking [the] football and being proactive. We did that tonight in a different structure. They’re an impressive group.”

The Rapids will head home to face Atlanta United (4-10-11) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. MT. The game can be streamed on the MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

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The Colorado Rapids fell to Liga MX’s Club Tijuana 2-1 on matchday two of the Leagues Cup on Sunday Night. Previously, the Rapids under Head Coach Chris Armas were 5-0 against Mexican clubs, but the Xolos were able to stop Colorado’s high-powered offense to earn their first win in any Leagues Cup tournament.

Tijuana finished in 13th place in the last Liga MX season and had a negative six-goal differential. The squad includes one of the youngest players in the world, 16-year-old Mexican midfielder Gilberto Mora, who scored two goals in the Xolos’ 5-2 loss against the LA Galaxy last Thursday.

Armas elected to use a 4-2-2-2 formation that featured Darren Yapi and Rafael Navarro as the two strikers. Four starters from the Rapids’ 2-1 win against Santos Laguna on Thursday were left out of the starting eleven, including the “main man” Djordje Mihailovic, who was left off the line-up entirely and traded to Toronto FC the day after the game. Without the attacking midfielder, the Colorado offense was unorganized all night, with Navarro being forced to constantly leave his striking position to distribute the ball.

Through the first 45 minutes, Colorado failed to create synchronization on the field. Aside from a few runs from Yapi, the offense failed to create chances.

In the 39th minute, a Mora corner found the head of defender Jackson Porozo, who at first hit the left post, but then scissor-kicked the ball into the net to give Tijuana the lead.

The Burgundy Boys went into halftime down one and were outshot by the Xolos 12-2, only producing one shot on target in 45 minutes.

Although the Rapids possessed the ball early in the second half, they failed to create any significant sequences. In the 72nd minute, seconds after coming onto the pitch, Tijuana substitute Ramiro Arciga put the ball into the back of the net on his first touch of the game.

Two minutes later, the Rapids responded with a far-post goal off a Porozo own-goal. Six minutes later, the equalizer from Navarro was saved by Tijuana’s keeper, as Colorado was unable to find the tying goal in the dying minutes.

“As a team, we all think it's a disappointment, and a big missed opportunity,” Armas said after the loss. “We’d like that one back.”

Colorado currently sits in 10th position in the MLS side of the table with three points. To advance to the next round, they must sit within the top four spots, which will most likely require seven or more points. Even if Armas’ squad wins the next match, they will need positions nine through four to all lose their matches to move on to the knockout round.

The Rapids will head to Dignity Health Sports Park in California, a neutral site, to face Cruz Azul, the current CONCACAF Champions League winners. The game can be streamed on the MLS Season Pass via Apple TV on Thursday at 6 p.m. MT.

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The Colorado Rapids have agreed to sell leading goal scorer and leader of the team, Djordje Mihailovic, to Toronto FC for a club record $8 million. The cash transfer has incentives that could increase the price to $9 million.

Mihailovic currently has 11 goals and six assists in all competitions, the most goal contributions on Colorado. The attacking midfielder had 23 goals and 18 assists in 63 games, which is the record for most goal contributions in a player's first two years with the Rapids. Last season, he had double-digit scores and assists, the only player on the squad to do so.

Mihailovic asked to leave the club, and though Head Coach Chris Armas, who is out of contract soon, tried to change his mind but was unable to do so.

Mihailovic recently lost the captain’s armband and missed the Rapids’ second Leagues Cup game against Tijuana due to “personal reasons,” much like how Moise Bombito came up with a mysterious injury in last year’s Leagues Cup days before being transferred to OGC Nice.

The Rapids have until Aug. 21 to find a replacement for Mihailovic, the centerpiece of the lineup. In the two games Colorado played without him, they struggled to find offensive success and constantly looked disorganized. The midfielder was undoubtedly the best player on the squad, and for them to finish strong and secure a playoff spot, they must find a way to operate without the operator.

The Colorado Rapids will head to Dignity Health Sports Park in California, a neutral site, to face Cruz Azul, the current CONCACAF Champions League winners. The game can be streamed on the MLS Season Pass via Apple TV on Thursday at 6 p.m. MT.

The Colorado Rapids, spearheaded by a Rafael Navarro brace, took down Liga MX club Santos Laguna 3-0 in the first matchday of this year's Leagues Cup. The Rapids came back and scored two unanswered goals to secure all three group points.

In the latest Liga MX season, Santos Laguna had a record of two wins, one draw and fourteen losses, while only scoring 15 goals all Clausura reflecting on their inability to create offensive sparks. Los Laguneros are led by goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo, who proved to be a reliable player on a squad that struggles to find positives.

Colorado Head Coach Chris Armas elected to run a 4-2-3-1 formation similar to the one used in the last three MLS regular-season matches.

Through the first 45 minutes, the Rapids had multiple chances to open the night’s scoring. In the 44th minute, Navarro had a one-on-one opportunity against Acevedo, which resulted in the chip attempt beating the keeper, but bouncing off the far post and back into play.

Two minutes later, Colorado midfielder Cole Bassett appeared to strike first after redirecting a free kick into the back of the net. However, after a look from the Virtual Assistant Referee (VAR), the goal was negated due to an offside ruling.

Heading into halftime the teams stood level despite the Rapids missing on two golden opportunities to jump ahead.

Eight minutes into the second half, Santos striker Jordan Carrillo scored a goal off a beautiful bicycle kick which left Rapids fans stunned.

Nine minutes later, Colorado finally broke through as Navarro leveled the game after tapping a Calvin Harris pass into the net. Then, in the 82nd minute, a Djorjde Mihailovic cross found Navarro who blasted the ball into the back of the net to take the lead. Navarro now leads the Rapids with 11 goals in all competitions.

In the dying minutes of the match tensions flared after Acevedo seemingly tried to hit a Rapids player in the head area. The goalkeeper received a red card in the seventh minute of extra time.

“We want to go after every trophy that's out there,” Armas said after the win. “They came out in the second half and made it difficult, but we love these games … I love the fashion in which we won.”

The Rapids will host Club Tijuana for their second League Cup matchday on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. MT. The game can be streamed on the MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

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The Colorado Rapids (8-6-10) found a way to get a positive result against the Seattle Sounders (9-7-6) despite being down three goals after 50 minutes. The 3-3 draw is only the fifth time in history that Colorado has come away with points playing in Seattle.

Despite barely having played a game four days prior, the Rapids made no tactical changes. The formation and players on the field stayed exactly the same.

Through the first 16 minutes, Colorado was easily outplayed, and Seattle’s 19-year-old midfielder Obed Vargas rewarded his team with the match’s first goal.

The Rapids responded with an attack that built up a long period of possession which resulted in great chances to even the score. Holding midfielder Connor Ronan and winger Ted Ku-DiPietro had opportunities, but both were denied by Sounders goalie Andrew Thomas.

In the 43rd minute, Colorado goalie Zack Steffen came out of his 18-yard box to clear a ball that ended up bouncing toward Seattle attacker Albert Rusnák. The striker shot the ball from over 20 yards out into a wide-open net to double the lead.

Despite a great reaction after the opening goal and having possession for 52% of the first 45 minutes, the Rapids went into halftime down two goals.

Just two minutes into the second half, Rusnák blasted a shot from above the box into the bottom left corner to score his second goal. The attacker has nine career goals against the Burgundy Boys.

Another two minutes after that, Colorado striker Rafael Navarro won a penalty after being cleated by a defender. On the ensuing kick, Djordje Mihailovic scored his fourth penalty of the season.

Then, another two minutes later, Navarro won an additional penalty after being tackled down by Seattle's goalkeeper. This time, midfielder Cole Bassett stepped up to the spot and buried his bid. In a span of four minutes, Navarro won two penalties that resulted in two Colorado goals.

In the 75th minute, Rapids striker Darren Yapi blasted a ball past Thomas and into the left side of the net to tie the game just five minutes after subbing onto the pitch. The 20-year-old Colorado native has a career-high four goals on the season.

‘It's a night that we can feel really proud of,” Colorado Rapids head coach Chris Armas said after the game. “We pushed the tempo and didn't give up … I'm really proud of the group.”

Colorado currently sits in 7th place despite having played two more games than most of the Western Conference. For Armas’ club to climb the rankings, they will need to find results in games they are expected to lose.

The Rapids will have 10 days off before heading to Subaru Park to take on the Eastern Conference’s top-ranked team, the Philadelphia Union (14-4-5) on July 26 at 5:30 p.m. MT. The game can be streamed on the MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

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The Colorado Rapids (8-5-10) dominated the Vancouver Whitecaps (11-5-5) 3-0 Saturday night. Colorado midfielder Djordje Mihailovic assisted three goals en route to a dominating win and the much-needed three table points.

The Rapids elected to play in a 4-2-3-1 formation, which featured five changes from Wednesday's loss against LAFC. Goalie Zack Steffen made his first start since May after successfully recovering from oblique and knee injuries. The defense was once again altered as Keegan Rosenberry was relegated to the bench.

Eleven minutes into the match, Mihailovic combined with winger Calvin Harris to swiftly get the scoring started. Harris has four goals on the season and has scored in three of his last four starts.

In the 30th minute, Mihailovic assisted another goal after striker Rafael Navarro tapped the ball into the back of the net to extend the Rapids lead to two.

In the final minute of the first half, Colorado winger Ted Ku-DiPietro won a penalty after being chopped down at the top of the box. Navarro took the ensuing kick but was denied by Vancouver keeper Yohei Takaoka. The Rapids have three missed penalties this year, which was a problem that plagued them last season.

Even with the missed penalty, Colorado went into halftime up 2-0 and with every inch of momentum on their side. The Burgundy Boys were able to replicate their first-half success to command the Western Conference’s second-placed team for the full 90 minutes.

In the 59th minute, a Mihailovic corner found the head of defender Andreas Maxsø, who was able to bounce the ball into the net. Mihailovic now holds the team record for most goal contributions for a player in his first two seasons with the club. On a team that has had a roller coaster of a season, the midfielder has proved to be a constant.

“You can say a lot about Djordje Mihailovic and what he has meant to the team,” Colorado head coach Chris Armas said after the win. “The edge he has, the winning mentality, he makes everyone around him better … We have a special player.”

The Colorado defense was able to hold firm and deny the Whitecaps a goal in an instance where a score could have easily altered the game. In his first match back from injury, Steffen was able to make important saves, including a one-on-one chance save against his U.S. Men's National Team teammate Brian White to keep a clean sheet.

“On a night where they threw a lot at us … He [Steffen] looked strong, he's a presence out there.” Armas said.

A win against a top-ranked team like the Whitecaps could be what Colorado needs to finish the season off with good form.

“Proud of the team, they’ve had some tough results lately,” Armas said. “We now have to stick to what we have done; it's all about consistency.”

The Rapids head to Seattle to battle with the Sounders (9-6-6) on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. MT (MLS Season Pass via Apple TV). In their first meeting earlier in the season, they tied 1-1 after Navarro’s late game-winning score was negated due to a controversial foul call.

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The Colorado Rapids (7-5-10) were easily taken care of by LAFC (8-6-6) on Wednesday, losing 3-0. An early red card for the Rapids set the tone for the team's disastrous effort, as LAFC held possession for 71% of the game, and Colorado’s first shot on target didn't come until the 68th minute.

The Rapids played in a 4-4-2 formation with a diamond midfield. The layout allowed Darren Yapi and Rafael Navarro to play in the striker position, and Djordje Mihailovic to still play his attacking midfielder role. Colorado native Cole Bassett made his long-awaited return to the starting 11 following a lingering injury that kept him on the sideline since mid-May.

Six minutes into play, Colorado defender Jackson Travis received a straight red card for a tackle attempt that was deemed dangerous. For the remaining 84 minutes, the Burgundy Boys were down to 10 men on the pitch.

The Rapids held on until the 40th minute, but LA winger Denis Bouanga took the ball from his own half into his opponent's box, where he was chopped down and awarded a penalty. On the subsequent kick, the winger beat Colorado’s Nico Hansen to score the game’s first goal.

Despite playing nearly the whole half down a player and having no offensive success, the Rapids went into halftime only down one. However, just three minutes into the second half, LA attacker Nathan Ordaz scored a tap-in goal that was rebounded off Hansen. Then, merely eleven minutes later, LAFC’s Javairô Dilrosun beat Hansen to put the Rapids away.

The recent struggles for Colorado are a direct result of the defense’s inconsistency. Since the beginning of the year, Armas has yet to start the same four defenders in more than three straight games. Colorado currently has a negative nine-goal differential. With a cycling backline each week, the players are unable to get accustomed to each other's playing styles. This leads to mistakes like Travis’ happening in moments where they still have a chance to get into the game. For the Rapids to have a chance at a deep playoff push, they will need to find a backline that consistently starts together and plays well.

The Rapids head back home to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps (11-5-4) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. MT (MLS Season Pass via Apple TV). The Rapids look to avenge their 2-0 loss to Vancouver earlier this year, who currently sit in 2nd place in the Western Conference, only a point behind San Diego FC.

The Colorado Rapids lost 2-1 to Sporting Kansas City on July 4, marking the first time they’ve lost at home to KC since 2014. The loss is a direct result of a missed opportunity early on to tie the game and several overlooked chances in the last 45 minutes.

Once again, Colorado Head Coach Chris Armas elected to use a 4-2-3-1 formation with Rafael Navarro as the lone striker. Attacking midfielder Djordje Mihailovic returned to the squad along with defender Keegan Rosenberry, who started the year off as the team captain before getting benched in April.

Just four minutes into the match, Rapids goalie Nico Hansen gave the ball away in his own box, and KC striker Dejan Jovelic put the ball into the back of the net to gain the early advantage.

In the 25th minute, a Mihailovic penalty kick bounced off the post, coming just inches shy of tying the match. The miss from the penalty spot is Mihailovic’s second of the year and third with Colorado.

Despite consistent pressure from Mihailovic and winger Calvin Harris, the Burgundy Boys were unable to even thescore, and went into half down one.

Eight minutes into the second half, Sporting KC’s Erik Thommy received a long pass from his keeper, danced around four defenders and slotted the ball past Hansen into the net to quickly extend the lead to two.

However, in the 88th minute, substitute attacker Darren Yapi was fouled in the penalty area to set up a free kick for Navarro. This time, he stepped up to the spot and calmly blasted the ball into the net to give Colorado some hope before the final whistle.

Navarro and his attack were unable to find the tying goal in the final minutes of the game.

“I’m proud of the way the team fought,” Armas said after the loss. “However, we need to get good at the things that win you games, and better at the things that cost you them.”

The Rapids will head to BMO Stadium to take on LAFC (7-5-5) on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. MT (MLS Season Pass via Apple TV). In their two-leg CONCACAF Champions League series earlierthis year, LA beat the Rapids 2-2 on aggregate thanks to the away goal rule.

The Colorado Rapids (7-5-8) blew a three goal lead against the New England Revolution (6-6-6) on Saturday night in a game that ended in a 3-3 draw.

Through the first 60 minutes the Rapids looked the better team, but after an own goal their fortune changed. The Revolution beat Colorado in every offensive stat.

The Rapids used a 4-2-3-1 attack for the second straight game, however, striker Darren Yapi occupied the attacking midfielder position instead of leading goal scorer Djordje Mihailovic, who missed his first game of the season. Winger Calvin Harris made his second start and Rafael Navarro spearheaded the Colorado attack.

Through the first 25 minutes New England had the best scoring opportunities, but Rapids goalie Nico Hansen blocked every shot that came his way, keeping the score 0-0.

The Rapids got started in the 29th minute after a Ted Ku-DiPietro shot bounced off of the Revolution’s keeper and landed at the feet of Harris. The 25-year-old blasted the ball into the back of the net to give his team a 1-0 lead. Harris scored his third goal of the season and his second in as many starts.

Eleven minutes later, Navarro received the ball in the box, danced around four defenders, and curled the ball into the bottom right corner of the net to give the Rapids a two goal advantage. . His goal was his sixth on the season, but the first since Colorado’s 2-2 draw against Houston on April 19th.

Through the first 45 minutes, the Rapids had taken advantage of every opportunity given to them while New England was struggling to get past Hansen’s gloves. The Rapids held onto their two goal lead heading into the second half.

Ten minutes into the second half, Ku-DiPietro broke away on a fast break and fired a shot from beyond the box that crept inside the near post, making it three unanswered goals for the Rapids. The goal is the midfielder’s first as a Burgundy Boy. However, the Rapids had exhausted all their luck, which would turn for the worst in the final minutes.

In the 58th minute, New England captain Carles Gil crossed in a dangerous ball that was accidentally poked into the net by Colorado defender Sam Vines. Their own goal is the third of the season.

In the 84th minute, the Revolution won a penalty kick after Rapids substitute Sam Bassett took down Gil in the penalty area. On the ensuing kick, Gil sent Hansen the wrong way and cut their deficit down to one.

The Revolution would complete the comeback in the second minute of stoppage time, after New England substitute Tanner Beason played a curling ball near the penalty spot that found the head of Maximiliano Urruti who redirected it into the net to tie the game. Colorado hung on for the remaining five minutes, and were able to deny the Revolution of a late game-winner.

“This is one of those draws that feels like a loss,” Rapids head coach Chris Armas said after the draw. “I feel for the guys… This is a tough one.”

Colorado will head back home to take on Sporting Kansas City (5-5-10) in search of their eighth win of the season. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. MT on Friday (MLS Season Pass via Apple TV).

The Colorado Rapids (7-4-8) got back in the win column, after shutting out the reigning MLS champion LA Galaxy (1-5-13) on Wednesday night. Colorado’s captain, Djordje Mihailovic, scored his eighth goal of the season en route to a much-needed 2-0 win.

Head coach Chris Armas elected to use a 4-2-3-1 formation with Rafael Navarro as the lone striker. Winger Calvin Harris made his first start of the season in place of Sam Bassett who started the night on the bench.

The Rapids almost took an early lead In the eighth minute after Mihailovic received a pass from Navarro that was quickly converted into a goal. However, the score was disallowed after it was ruled that Navarro was offside when he received the set up pass.

In the 24th minute, Mihailovic put one in the back of the net following a perfectly placed ball by defender Sam Vines. The Captain leads the Rapids with eight goals, accounting for 40% of the team’s 20 goals.

Just four minutes later, Harris received a ball in the right side of the box and blasted a shot into the bottom left bin to extend the Rapids’ lead to 2-0.

“He’s done enough to earn the start,” Armas said after the game. “I'm thrilled for Calvin [Harris], I'm really happy for him.”

Harris continued his excellent play into the second half and nearly capped off his brace had it not been for the left post that denied one of his shots.

Although the Galaxy led in nearly every offensive stat including shots and shots on target, their star-studded attack including the likes of Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil could not net a goal. Both attackers had more than 10 goals last season but have a combined four goals through the first half of the season.

“I’m proud of the way we stepped onto the pitch,” coach Armas said following the win. “It’s obviously an important win.”

Mihailovic, Navarro and Harris all played remarkably well which is a good sign as the team nears its final 15 games. The key for Colorado to find success down the stretch of the season is finding offensive help outside Mihailovic and Navarro. With Harris and midfielder Ted Ku-Dipietro both providing goal contributions, Armas’ squad could finally be escaping their rough patch of games.

The Rapids now head over to Massachusetts to take on the New England Revolution (6-5-6) on Saturday. Kickoff against the Revolution is set for 5:30 p.m. MT (MLS Season Pass via Apple TV).

The Colorado Rapids (6-4-8) lost to Orlando City SC (8-6-4) 2-0 on Saturday night. The Rapids’ offensive woes continued as only two of their 13 shots were on target. For the second game in a row, Colorado also failed to score.

Rapids head coach Chris Armas returned to the 4-2-2-2 formation, which featured both Rafael Navarro and Darren Yapi as strikers. Although Armas has used a similar formation seven times this season, his team has only been victorious once while starting two strikers up top.

Early on in the game, it was apparent that Orlando’s attack was frustrating Colorado’s defense. Throughout the first half of the season, the Rapids have had a revolving carousel in their backline. No one defensive player has started all 18 games which is a main reason the team is on pace to concede nearly 50 goals.

In the 24th minute, Orlando’s Martin Ojeda blasted a left footed-shot that ricocheted off of Colorado keeper Nico Hansen’s glove and hit the top netting to give the away team the lead.

Although Hansen was able to deny the Lions from extending the lead, his attack was unable to generate any fireworks on the other end of the field. Going into halftime, the Burgundy Boys looked disorganized.

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In the remaining 45 minutes, Colorado captain Djordje Mihailovic and Navarro desperately tried creating chances to level the game. Both players were able to create a spark in the offense, but no balls ended up hitting the back of the net.

“Right now we are in a tough period,’ Armas said following the loss. “ Margins are so thin, and we are unable to sway it in our favor.”

Through the team’s 18 games, the Rapids have only scored 18 goals, which is tied for third lowest in the Western Conference. Mihailovic, Navarro and Yapi combine for 15 of the 18 goals. The lack of offensive firepower on the field has been a huge reason for the team’s three game losing streak and eight losses in the last 10 games.

The Rapids will have over a week off before hosting the reigning MLS Champions LA Galaxy (1-5-12) on Saturday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m. MT. Last season, the Galaxy knocked Colorado out of the MLS playoffs following a 5-0 loss and a 4-1 loss in the best of three series. The game can be streamed on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

The Colorado Rapids (6-4-7) were shut out by Austin FC (6-5-7) 2-0 on Saturday night. The Rapids continued to struggle offensively, being unable to convert any of their 19 shots into points, with an uninspired attack all night.

Despite having two in-form strikers, Colorado head coach Chris Armas elected to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Rafael Navarro leading the attack instead of Darren Yapi. With Zack Steffen still out with a knee injury, Nico Hansen once again started in between the sticks.

Six minutes into the match, Rapids fullback Jackson Travis was caught playing out of position which led to an enemy fast-break. Austin’s Mikkel Desler found the back of the net to put Colorado behind early.

“We could have started much better on the front foot trying to take risks,” Rapids midfielder Ted Ku-DiPietro said after the game. “If we are on the front foot in the first 10 minutes, we don’t concede.”

For the rest of the half, the Rapids held on by a thread. Hansen was able to deny any other goals, but if it had not been for his excellent play, Colorado could have easily been down 4-0.

After a great stop by Hansen early in the second half, in the 66th minute a powerful curling corner kick found the head of Navarro who accidentally headered the ball past Hansen. It was the Rapids’ second own goal of the year and gave Austin a 2-0 advantage.

Colorado never truly woke up on offense, as Hansen continued to bail his team out while his attack was unable to create any opportunities. Despite having 19 shots on the night and Austin only allowing 13 goals all season, they couldn’t find any points to bring the game closer. Both of the Rapids’ top scorers Navarro and captain Djordje Mihailovic struggled against Austin’s backline.

“It’s a frustrating night,” Rapids defender Reggie Cannon said after the loss. “Offensively we created the right chances, we just didn’t put the ball in the net, and at the end of the day, they punished us.”

With the loss, Colorado sits in ninth place in the Western Conference. If the season were to end today, The Rapids would play in the play-in game for a spot in the playoffs.

The Rapids will host Orlando City SC (7-6-4) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. MT. The game can be streamed on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

The Colorado Rapids (6-4-6) fell to the Portland Timbers (7-4-5) 2-1 following a second half collapse that included two goals conceded and a red card. The Timbers outshot the Rapids 23-11 and had nine shots on target compared to Colorado’s three.

Rapids’ Head Coach Chris Armas elected to continue the 4-2-3-1 formation, but with a slight twist. His players stayed behind the ball and dared Portland to attack, who have only scored two goals in their past five games.

In the 33rd minute, Rapids captain Djorjde Mihailovic bobbed and weaved through defenders for 40 yards before rolling the ball into the bottom right corner of the net. This was his seventh goal of the year and put the Rapids on top.

Eight minutes later the Timbers were awarded a penalty after a handball on defender Andreas Maxsø. Portland captain Felipe Mora stepped up to the mark and shot the ball straight up the middle, but was denied by keeper Nico Hansen.

Through the first 45, the Rapids had the lead and were running their game-plan to perfection. Although the Timbers had possessions for 65% of the first half, they had struggled to create a clear chance for their attackers.

Seven minutes into the second half, Mihailovic was subbed out after sustaining a right hamstring injury. According to Armas it was only cramping, and the midfielder should be good to go for the next outing.

In the 59th minute, Colorado midfielder Connor Ronan made a cross that found midfielder Sam Bassett, whose point-blank shot bounced right off the crossbar. On the counterattack, the Timbers found themselves with a number advantage in opponent territory. Following a through ball, Antony blasted a shot past Hansen to tie the game at one. In his six career games against the Rapids, he has six goals.

Nine minutes later Colorado substitute Wayne Frederick was given a straight red card after a dangerous tackle on Portland’s David Ayala. The Rapids were down to 10 men for the remaining 32 minutes.

“It's difficult when you go a man down,” Defensive midfielder Oliver Larraz said. “It was difficult for us to manage the game offensively with a man down, we tried to push a bit but it was difficult.”

In the 76th minute, the Colorado back line allowed a risky cross in front of the goal that found Portland’s Kevin Kelsy, who tapped it in to give the Timbers the lead and effectively win the game.

“Believe it or not, games like this are going to make us better,” Armas said after the loss. “We’ll take some positives from this, I’m sure of it.”

The Rapids will have over a week off before hosting Austin FC on Saturday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. MT. In their first meeting in early March, striker Rafael Navarro scored the lone goal to give Colorado its first win of the season. The game can be streamed on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

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