A wild 2-2 draw in the Colorado Rapids’ first matchup against Inter Miami, which included 45 minutes of Lionel Messi, was full of minute details that affected not only the match, but also some of the outlooks on the team for the near future.
From injury updates to who wore the captain’s armband in light of one of those injuries, here are some notes from this week’s media availability:
Rosenberry good to go, Löffelsend nearing return
Keegan Rosenberry suffered a thigh contusion during training last week that kept him out of the game against Miami. The MLS availability report listed him as questionable, but he did not appear in the lineup. Rapids coach Chris Armas said the injury is “past him, for sure.” He’ll be good to go this Saturday against San Jose.
Jasper Löffelsend has played in only one match this season, when he subbed on for an injured Connor Ronan early in the Rapids’ 2-1 win over his former team, Real Salt Lake. He had to be taken out that game as well due to a hamstring injury that has now kept him sidelined for more than a month.
In training on Tuesday, he participated in all drills and looked quick and comfortable in his movements. Armas said Löffelsend is “where he’s supposed to be” in his recovery progression and “could be an option” against San Jose.
Ronan and Jonathan Lewis are the two other major players with injuries — both to their knees — and could still be a ways from their return. Armas didn’t put a timeline on either player, but he said Ronan underwent imaging Monday, the results were good and his recovery is “ahead of schedule.”
As for Lewis, Armas said he is walking this week after being in an immobilizer at the end of last week, and the hope is he’ll be able to jog in the coming days. He suffered a knee injury during practice two weeks ago and for the most part is playing things as cautiously as possible.
Positive debuts from Anderson and Diack
In place of Rosenberry, new Homegrown signing Sebastian Anderson took the field for the Rapids for the first time this season against Miami, where he played all 90 minutes.
Despite the thrill of playing against legends like Messi and the pressure of replacing the team’s captain and starting right back, Armas and left back Sam Vines were both impressed with the way Anderson played. He made a couple of early mistakes that can be attributed to nerves, but Armas was most impressed with the way he grew into the game.
“(Anderson), for one of his first games for us, he’s done really well,” Vines said. “(Miami) is not an easy place to play and it’s a difficult team to play against. So for him, I think it was a good experience. He got to play and be on the same pitch as Messi and the biggest players. … Hopefully that pushes him forward.”
Lamine Diack made his much-anticipated debut, subbing on for Rafael Navarro in the 85th minute. Three minutes later, he made a key interception, which sprung the counterattack that drew the Rapids even.
Captain Steffen
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The right back position wasn’t the only role left vacant by an injured Rosenberry. In his absence, someone needed to wear the captain’s armband, too.
For Armas, the decision was an easy call: Zack Steffen.
Last season, when William Yarbrough was out, it was typically either Cole Bassett or Andreas Maxsø who sported the armband. For the most part, having a group of players from which to designate that responsibility isn’t a bad thing, but Armas said he’s not laboring over the decision to give it to Steffen.
“He’s a leader. Guys respect him,” Armas said of Steffen. “He’s got a good voice; when he talks, people listen. On the night, imagine the magnitude of the game for some of the players. Zack has been around, he’s been in big games and big moments and he didn’t let the armband affect him in an emotional way too much.”
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