Darren Yapi knows a thing or two about scoring big goals in knockout games.
His go-ahead goal on Wednesday night against the San Jose Earthquakes wasn’t necessarily his biggest, but it helped the Colorado Rapids en route to a 2-0 victory in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals. And for the first time since 1999, the Rapids are moving onto the Open Cup semifinal.
His second career goal for the Rapids came in 2024 late in the Leagues Cup round of 16 against Liga MX club Toluca, when Yapi scored a winner in the sixth minute of extra time to move on to the semifinal. Colorado took third in that tournament in a near-miraculous run.
Almost two years later, Yapi struck first in the 40th minute on a set play from a corner kick. Dante Sealy and Paxten Aaronson had a give-and-go on the initial corner, then Sealy sent in a wonderfully-placed cross to Yapi at the back post, who headed it in off the ground past San Jose keeper Daniel. It was his fourth goal in all competitions this season and first since signing a five-year U-22 extension.
“In terms of Yapi, that was by far and away a standalone performance of what he’s produced this season. … The mentality he showed tonight was everything I’m trying to push him to become,” Rapids coach Matt Wells said. “… His selflessness and the way he helped the team (offensively and defensively) has got to be a reference point for him and a benchmark for him. On top of that, we can build and keep improving the individual quality, and when we do that, we’ve got a top player.”
Rafael Navarro, with his ninth goal in all competitions this season, doubled the lead in the 45+10th minute from the penalty spot after Reid Roberts handled the ball inside the box.
San Jose, down a pair of its best players but still with plenty of quality on the field, rattled 12 shots (six on target) but none with much more than an outside chance of going in. The closest the Earthquakes got to scoring was a laser of a shot in the second half, destined for the left post, but it was saved by Nico Hansen.
The Rapids’ history in the Open Cup has been less than favorable. On both occasions, they made it to at least the semifinal (1996, ‘99), they lost to the Rochester Rhinos in the semifinal and final. Since then, the Rapids have only made two quarterfinals (2006, ‘07) and have not beaten MLS competition in the Open Cup since beating Real Salt Lake in the 2006 round of 16.
Now, they’re just two games away from Wells cashing in on a promise to win hardware with Colorado, at the moment just five months into his tenure. Wells, having won the Europa League as an assistant at Tottenham in 2025, is familiar with the feeling. Yapi hasn’t had the honor yet.
“We play to win trophies, and to be one step closer — the vibes in the locker room and just the whole club is very very high, and we’re excited for that semifinal,” Yapi said. “The guys tell me itap the best feeling in the world (to win a trophy), so tonight I wanted to show I really want a trophy. I really want to experience it and what itap like.”
Colorado will have to wait a while to inch closer to that reality. The semifinal will be played against St. Louis CITY on a yet-to-be-announced date in mid-September. St. Louis is the only team so far this season to beat the Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The winner of that match will play the winner of Orlando City SC and the Columbus Crew in October.
