If the pass wasn’t sweet enough to reverse the sour taste from Decision Day last year, the finish sure was. And it just had to be Djordje Mihailovic and Rafael Navarro.
And the defense from the Colorado Rapids, unlike that October night at Q2 Stadium in 2024, bent but did not break, particularly to close either half. The reward was their first win of this MLS season, 1-0, against Austin FC.
The Rapids, who have produced a roller coaster of offense and lack thereof to start the 2025 campaign, produced only two shots in the first half of Saturday’s Western Conference matchup. In the 18th minute, the only shot on goal of the period ended up being the difference for the match as a whole.
On the left side of the midfield, Oliver Larraz found Mihailovic on a short pass. Then Mihailovic turned and played an inch-perfect pass, both laterally between two players and vertically in his targetap stride, to Navarro. After a cheeky chip from the Brazilian, Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver was left to pick the ball out of the net.
“Those are the moments in the midfield where I like to pick up the ball. There’s very little time for me to make decisions, so I have to play on what I feel is the right thing in that moment,” Mihailovic said. “(Navarro) made a great run, kept himself outside, and you can’t hesitate in those moments.”
Navarro has three goals in as many MLS matches for what is looking to be the start of a career year for the 24-year-old.
Aside from finding Navarro and letting him cook, the Rapids’ strength this season so far has been absorbing pressure and surviving on defense. They did just that for the next 70-plus minutes.
Austin finished the match with 21 shots (four on goal) while Colorado consistently made Austin uncomfortable during its final attacking actions. Zack Steffen made four saves, including a fingertip save off a dangerous header to put a shot onto the crossbar and out in the first half.
“We’re developing an ability to ramp it up,” Rapids coach Chris Armas said. “If you watch Liverpool these days, they’re a team that understands that when the whistle blows, it’s on. Our guys did that tonight. … Does it always equal a win? No, but I’m glad the guys get to experience that emptying of the tank, that commitment to the way we play, proactiveness, energetic football, and get rewarded.”
In the second half, the Rapids were bailed out of two penalties. Rapids center back Chidozie Awaziem, who exited last week’s home opener due to a nagging groin injury, committed a foul inside the box on Myrto Uzuni in the 52nd minute. VAR found Uzuni offside on a nice pass right before the foul.
Then in second-half stoppage time, Rapids second-year midfielder Wayne Frederick seemed to have clipped former Rapids forward Diego Rubio in the box on a 50/50 challenge. After a lengthy stoppage, VAR intervened again, and slow-motion replay showed both players making contact on the ball at the same time before bodily contact.
An already-long period of stoppage time (seven minutes initially) finally ended with just north of 102 minutes on the clock. In three games, Steffen has earned two clean sheets — both on the road. It took 11 games in 2024 to reach that mark.
The Rapids will continue their road trip against the revamped San Jose Earthquakes next Saturday.
