As the Colorado Rapids and Houston Dynamo now know, fumes aren’t an adequate fuel source to score goals in bulk.
Both teams have played seven games in just three weeks. Both took at least 120 minutes of action to beat USL Championship teams in the U.S. Open Cup round of 16 on Wednesday. That much mileage on the legs was evident for much of Saturday’s match between the two in a 1-0 Dynamo win at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston.
From a Rapids perspective, it was also apparent on Houston’s late winner. Dynamo attacker Lawrence Ennali had way too much time to control a rebound on a corner in the 72nd minute, then put a cannon on net from about 27 yards. None from the clump of Rapids defenders closed out, and keeper Zack Steffen had little chance to stop the shot.
“We need to be able to put some points on the board (in games) where we don’t quite hit our stride. At the moment, if we don’t quite hit our stride and our rhythm, we’re always on the losing end of these tight games with small margins,” Rapids coach Matt Wells said. “…Once I see it back, I’ll have a clear idea of why the path to goal looked so easy (on Ennali’s goal). I thought our actual defending of first contacts on set plays was really impressive, but once you give up a little bit of space on the edge of the box, you need to have the desire to squeeze and make blocks.”
Colorado once again couldn’t turn a dominant possession performance (60.8%) into any real threat on goal, producing just four shots (two on target) all game. Its best chances were a Dante Sealy flicked-on header from the penalty spot and a Paxten Aaronson left-footed shot from distance, both of which were saved in the second half.
Aaronson, who was listed as questionable on Friday, subbed on in the 39th minute for Josh Atencio, who sustained a head injury and had to exit the match. He was the second of two first-half Rapids subs — center back Rob Holding took a hit to the leg in the 27th minute and tried to continue, but succumbed by the 32nd. Even in a vacuum, thatap abnormal, but put a bow on the oddity fixture congestion can conjure.
With the subs Wells could choose to make, most were for reinforcement in the attack. Georgi Minoungou, also questionable before the game, appeared for the final 30 minutes, along with Rapids 2 standout Mamadou Billo Diop and third-year winger Kimani Stewart-Baynes for their first appearances this season. Minoungou added some bite to the attack, but none could help produce an equalizer.
The Rapids have been a tale of two locations this season. They’re undefeated at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in all competitions (5-0-0), but with the loss at Houston, they’ve only scraped four points everywhere else (1-6-1, including a loss to Inter Miami at Empower Field).
“Our game plan and mentality is always the same, home or away. … I think when you look at all the results, itap just been small margins we have to sharpen up on,” Aaronson said. “Itap the little moments (in away games) that can really kill you. I think 0-0 all game, both teams had chances and then tonight, we concede on a second ball on a set piece. When you go away, you really have to tighten up, roll the sleeves up and show some grit.”
Finally, for the first time in weeks, the Rapids will have a full week before their next match against St. Louis CITY at home. That will give the laundry list of an injury report at least a bit of time to dwindle. Currently, the health of six players (at least four of which are starters) is up in the air. Like it did on Saturday, Colorado may have to get creative again against St. Louis.
