Redemption is always sweeter when you know you’re about to be suspended.
In front of a sellout crowd at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Thursday, the Rapids put on a show in the second half against Sporting Kansas City. Many fans may have come for the post-game fireworks show, but a gritty 2-1 win in the dying moments of the game may have them coming back for more than just pyrotechnics.
Midfielder Djordje Mihailovic contributed to both Rapids goals, but also recorded his fifth yellow card of the season, which means he will miss Sunday’s reverse fixture against St. Louis City S.C. — the team he scored a hat trick against on the road just two weeks ago.
With the game tied down the stretch, Mihailovic caught Tim Leibold in the head while attempting to kick the ball and win possession, earning him the yellow. A couple of chippy moments later, while there was some confusion about whether Leibold needed to get off the pitch per new MLS injury rules, Mihailovic had one thing in mind.
“I was disappointed right when it happened. And then I thought, ‘I have to somehow win this game,’” Mihailovic said.
That was in the 87th minute. Seven minutes later, well into stoppage time, forward Darren Yapi earned a penalty on a counterattack Mihailovic started. Then the midfielder buried the penalty past K.C. goalkeeper Tim Melia’s outstretched hands for his 10th goal of the season. He joins forward Rafael Navarro in the double-digit scoring club just 22 matches into the season. One more assist and he’ll log double digits there, too.
Colorado Rapids midfielder Djordje Mihailovic (10) converts a penalty kick in the 90’+4′ minute to lead the Rapids to a 2-1 comeback win over Sporting Kansas City at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Photo by Zachary Spindler-Krage/The Denver Post)
The Rapids initially went down a goal in the 48th minute after a mishit ball by SKC’s Erik Thommy fell straight to an unmarked Johnny Russell inside the six-yard box. But Colorado answered with Mihailovic finding midfielder Oliver Larraz on a free kick in the 69th minute for the 22-year old’s first career MLS goal, a header to the bottom right corner.
The Homegrown talent, who celebrated like he was the only person in the stadium with a smile indicating he’d just won the lottery, said the goal meant “everything” to him.
For coach Chris Armas, Larraz’s quick ascension in skill and comfort at the MLS level has been impressive. It’s also just in his nature, according to Armas.
“What I love so much about (Larraz) is that he’s a winner. He’s just a winner,” Armas said. “That’s why I trusted him and put him at right back at the end as we chose to go really aggressive to get the victory. He’s a reliable player who you can fit in different areas. He’s always going to bring energy. I love that he got his first goal, he deserves it.”
Armas and his coaching staff will have to tinker with the lineup heading into another home match against St. Louis on Sunday. With 10 goals and nine assists on the year, Mihailovic is the lifeblood of the Rapids’ attack and difficult to replace.
But it’s a safe bet midfielder Cole Bassett will plug into that position — one he’s more comfortable with than the more defensive role he’s currently in — and Larraz plays in the double pivot with Connor Ronan.
Winger Kévin Cabral, who served a one-game suspension after a red card against LAFC, will be back, too, to bolster an attack that will likely need anything it can get.
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“It’s just the next man up. We have a good team and the next guy will step up,” Armas said. “We love our central midfield and we like our attackers, and we’ll figure that out.”
The win marks the third straight at home for Colorado, the longest such streak this season. In many ways, DSGP is turning into the advantage it should be as the highest-altitude stadium in the league. This has been Armas’ goal since Day 1 in Colorado.
“At home, with our fans, with altitude, with the energy of the building, our pitch and the comfort of home, we’re proactive, we go after it,” Armas said. “What I love most is the energy of the crowd and the tempo at which we play. We really put teams in fast games and you can see it.
“It’s just home cookin’.”
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