The last time the Colorado Rapids won a playoff game, Tim Howard donned burgundy, Kevin Durant had just joined the Golden State Warriors and Usain Bolt was celebrating his final Olympic gold medal.
The opponent that year was, naturally, the Landon Donovan-led L.A. Galaxy in the Western Conference semifinals. A thrilling shootout was required for the Rapids to keep a magical 2016 season alive, but a groin injury kept Howard out of the conference finals and the Rapids ran into the eventual MLS Cup champions, Seattle Sounders.
A lot has changed since then: 10 new teams were added to the league, playoff formats have shifted emphatically and often, and the Rapids’ roster has completely turned over.
The mantra around Dick’s Sporting Goods Park is the same now as it (probably) was eight years ago: “Beat L.A.” In the locker room, “That’s the talk,” Rapids coach Chris Armas said Wednesday.
In the first round of this year’s MLS Cup Playoffs, the two worst teams in the 2023 Western Conference standings meet in the 2-7 matchup. One is a resurged group looking to reverse a huge slide in performance to end the season (Coloraod). The other is a perennial threat and historic giant with a deadly attacking midfield trio (L.A.).
Here are three keys for the Rapids to pull off an upset:
“Oversimplify in moments of stress”
A three-game series spanning three weeks can turn into a chess match, particularly with two Coach of the Year hopefuls in Armas and Greg Vanney on the sideline.
But certain moments should not be treated like that, according to defender Keegan Rosenberry.
During the Rapids’ end-of-season slide (five losses in final six matches), they were buried twice by giving up two goals in a matter of 10 minutes. Once was last Saturday against Austin FC, when what looked like a quality 2-1 win flipped on its head with Austin goals in the 90+1st minute and 90+3rd minute.
The other was against the Galaxy on Oct. 2, where Gabriel Pec and Riqui Puig turned a one-goal deficit into a one-goal lead eight minutes apart on the way to a 3-1 win. Back in July, in the other meeting the Rapids had with the Galaxy, L.A. scored twice in the span of five minutes before halftime to hold onto a 3-2 win.
In all three games, the Rapids played positive and urgent soccer, but short spans dictated the outcomes. In the playoffs, that cannot happen.
“One of the hardest things is to put together a full performance, a full 90 or 100 minutes,” Rosenberry said. “Our messaging as leadership is to try to oversimplify in times of stress, and disrupting and changing the rhythm of the game. When things aren’t going our way or they have a lot of possession or they’re putting together a lot of chances, (commit) some fouls here and there; slow the game down.
“They like to possess the ball. It’s going to be important for us to be organized and figure those things out on the fly.”
No Mihailovic? Feed Bassett and Cabral
Armas declared midfielder Djordje Mihailovic “day-to-day” Wednesday, but a return from a gnarly ankle roll from Saturday’s match is unlikely this weekend. Mihailovic accounted for a club-record 25 goal contributions this season and has been the key to offensive success all year.
When the Designated Player was in Paris for the Olympics, the Rapids had to get creative, slotting Cole Bassett into his preferred position at the 10 and letting him cook. At the time, so was winger Kévin Cabral, who returned from a three-month absence Saturday from a broken and dislocated elbow.
Together, they combined for eight goal contributions in the four games Mihailovic missed for the Olympics.
Though Bassett’s been out with a minor quad injury, Armas said the decision to hold him out for the past four games was precautionary.
If Bassett — eager to get minutes again — returns with a fraction of the fire he had in July after being omitted from the Olympic roster, the Rapids’ attack could click again with Cabral’s speed and penalty-drawing ability back on the wing.
Don’t give Puig an inch
In an offense that features four double-digit scorers, midfielder Riqui Puig is easily the most dangerous.
Puig has a combined hat trick in two matches against the Rapids this season and has been the string-puller in both games alongside Gabriel Pec.
Related Articles
Rapids’ slide continues after allowing two stoppage-time goals to Austin FC on Decision Day
Colorado Rapids’ playoff seed scenarios heading into decision day: “Whatever it takes, we’ve got to get a result”
Rapids fall 1-0 to Seattle Sounders as home field advantage slips out of reach
Rapids’ 13-game home unbeaten streak snapped emphatically by LA Galaxy
Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffen called up for USMNT’s October camp, friendlies
Both goals from Puig in the most recent matchup came from essentially the same play: Puig gets the ball just inside the box on the left, an overlapping runner forces the on-ball defender into a two-on-one, they give Puig an inch and he buries it far post.
Countless times this season, he has gone into get-me-the-ball mode and orchestrated long, drawn-out goal-scoring moves. It’s no coincidence the Galaxy were one of the best teams in MLS in possession.
When that happens in this series, the Rapids cannot give space or time to Puig. Colorado’s shape in defense must be nearly flawless and should involve all 11 players clogging lanes.
The series begins Saturday at 9 p.m. at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles and Game 2 will kick off on Friday, Nov. 1, at 7:30 p.m. at DSGP. If necessary, a third game will be back at L.A. on Saturday, Nov. 9, for an 8 p.m. kick.
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.