COMMERCE CITY — The Colorado Rapids (9-1-10, 28 points) pulled out a 1-0 win against a heavily rotated LAFC side on Wednesday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. LAFC did not start Hugo Lloris, Heung-Min Son, or Denis Bouanga. Bouanga and Son came on with 30 minutes left, but the duo couldn’t beat an in-form Rapids defense.
Colorado is currently seventh in the Western Conference standings, with the top seven teams advancing to the postseason while the eighth- and ninth-place teams advance to a single-elimination wild-card match to secure the final playoff spot.
In the 22nd minute, Rapids midfielder Wayne Frederick II won a free kick out wide. Colorado newcomer Youssef Maziz crossed in the free kick, and LAFC forward Jeremy Ebobisse got a foot on the ball, which was redirected toward the goal. No other touch was needed to steer the ball into the back of the net. It was officially an own goal by Ebobisse, and another highlight for Maziz, who also had an assist in his Rapids’ debut, a 2-0 win over Sporting KC.
“It’s another big moment for him,” Rapids head coach Matt Wells said about Maziz after the win. “We know one of the main reasons we brought him here was his set-play quality. So it’s another great delivery against their high line. He puts it in the right space between the defensive line and the keeper.”
While Maziz doesn’t officially get on the scoresheet for his assist on the own goal, he has been a revelation for the Rapids and his teammates have noticed.
“When I see a player from the top league from Belgium, I know he’s gonna add a lot to the team, and he’s been doing that,” Rapids’ midfielder Hamzat Ojediran said after the match. “One assist and maybe one goal today, so I’m not surprised.”
“He’s a great player, fantastic,” Frederick said. “I could learn a lot from him as well. Just him being a little bit older, more experienced. You know, the way he reads the game is brilliant. His set pieces are great, so I think he’s been a brilliant addition to the squad.”
The next best chance for either side came through a penalty kick. In the 41st minute, the Rapids’ Darren Yapi crossed a teasing ball into the box. LAFC defender Nkosi Tafari had a whole lot of Rapids forward Rafa Navarro’s shirt, and the Brazilian went down. Referee Joe Dickerson pointed to the spot. There was a similar play earlier in the half, but Colorado only got this call.
Navarro stepped up to take the penalty kick. The Rapids forward had been automatic at the spot since his technique was retooled by Rapids coach Rob Burch. It wasn’t automatic here, however, as Navarro shot to the left of the keeper, and LAFC backup keeper Cabral Carter met the ball. Navarro missed his first spot kick since his technique switch, and the Rapids missed out on a chance to go up 2-0.
The Rapids, holding the one-goal lead, had the better chances throughout the rest of the game. The best chance for either team came in the 54th minute. Rapids defender Loïc Williams played a perfectly timed ball to Navarro, and the forward did well to get his cross over the LAFC keeper. It fell to the feet of Rapids Midfielder Paxten Aaronson. With the whole goal open, Aaronson threw his body at the ball, and the contact he made with the ball pushed it wide.
“I have to watch it back because I have no idea,” Aaronson said after the game. “I just remember the goalie tipping it with his hand, and I think it threw me off a little. I try to go in with a ninja kick. I think that it doesn’t work out. Somehow it doesn’t go in. I don’t know if it hit my heel. I think if I could do it back, I would just go with the head or with the chest, just to try to get the most contact on it. It was definitely a strange one.”
The two missed shots by Navarro and Aaronson underscored another game of wasted opportunities for the Rapids, who were saved by another stout defensive performance. The Rapids now have four straight home wins without conceding a goal. The goals haven’t come yet, but the defensive work keeps this team in the win column.
“The good news is the spike of how much we’re getting into the box,” Wells said. “Now it’s just that last bit of the finishing, but that’s the bit I’m calmest about. That will just come when it comes on a certain day.”
Other than the win, the rest of the night’s news was no news on the roster side, despite the many rumors and whispers that the Rapids are looking for a new striker. This would most likely be the end of either Navarro’s or Darren Yapi’s Rapids career. Both players started the game, Rafa Navarro went the full 90.
Next up for the Colorado Rapids to finish a three-game week is San Diego FC on Saturday in San Diego at 8:30 p.m. Mountain Time.
