Rafael Santos is already worth the price of admission.
Three games into his Colorado Rapids tenure, the club paying $125,000 in General Allocation Money — less than the going price of an international roster slot — is looking like highway robbery.
The left back has three assists in that time span — 145 minutes to be exact — including one on the opening goal in Saturday’s 2-1 win against the Houston Dynamo at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
The assist itself wasn’t spectacular, but it was smart and required careful execution. On a free kick from striking distance, Santos lined up and postured to take it, but instead dragged it behind him to set up Cole Bassett for a shot on the move. The delicate setup created a path around the wall for Bassett to hit, which he did from about 22 yards out.
The strike was Bassettap third goal of the season and first since mid-July. It was his 31st for the Rapids, tying him with Chris Henderson for the sixth most in club history.
The Rapids’ winner came in the 90+6th minute, when a corner kick glanced off Paxten Aaronson’s head, then went in off Houston defender Felipe Andrade. All of DSGP thought Aaronson had scored his first goal for his new club, but it was credited as an own goal.
Santos continued his hot start with a pair of impressive crosses later in the first half. Either one could have netted an additional assist.
His signing was done in part to give competition to Sam Vines for the role moving forward with a less-than-impressive campaign from the Homegrown. So far, itap a landslide at the top of that totem pole.
“There’s different types of fullback profiles. He’s an attacking fullback,” Rapids coach Chris Armas said. “He’s just getting started with us. We’ve still got to get him up to speed on certain things, even defensively, some moments he can do better. But man, he’s added a nice piece — love his energy, he’s a real competitor.”
What impresses about Santos is what has been lacking from Vines. Vines made a name for himself in 2021 running in attacks and whipping in solid crosses, essentially making himself a winger who tracked back to defend. His service has not been the same since returning to the Rapids for the 2024 season.
In that sense, Santos has been a breath of fresh air. Both of those first-half crosses had this in common: They were on time, on target, and hit with speed. The latter could be what benefits this team most.
The Rapids have been built for speed on the flanks, and even their strikers — Rafael Navarro and Darren Yapi — have some pace to them. In certain attacking scenarios, the speedsters put themselves in good spots but couldn’t get good service.
“Itap not only offensively (I) can contribute, but itap just good to give (teammates) confidence as well,” Santos said through Rapids translator Andre Hilf. “(I) just want to try to give everybody else that confidence that (I) can help no matter if itap attacking or defending, … and that (I’m) a reliable player and they can count on (me).”
So far, all indications are that Santos could be that weapon. On both occasions Saturday night, a recipient got a foot to the ball but was a half step too late.
Jack McGlynn tied it up for Houston in the 68th minute with as easy a goal as he may ever score. Lawrence Ennali, who had been in a physical battle with right back Reggie Cannon for the first 15 minutes of the second half, beat Cannon to the touch line and lofted a cross to the back post. Goalkeeper Zack Steffen couldn’t jump high enough to snuff it out, then McGlynn flew in unmarked and tucked it into a wide-open net from close distance.
With other results around the Western Conference, the Rapids look a lot safer in at least a play-in position than before Saturday evening. They didn’t move from eighth place, but they’re now four points clear of San Jose, which is in ninth.
However, their last four games are against teams either fighting for a playoff position or for as high a table position as possible. FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake are tied and just outside of the playoff picture out west — Colorado plays both on the road. The remaining home games are against Minnesota — currently in second place, but one result away from first — and LAFC — in fifth with three games in hand.
