The Colorado Rapids endured a frustrating 3-0 defeat against LA Galaxy in California, a night where opportunities slipped away despite results elsewhere going in their favor – www.naijnaira.com reports.
The loss was particularly damaging because the Galaxy rested their star trio of Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil, and Marco Reus, yet still looked sharper for most of the game, according to Burgundy Wave.
Colorado went behind early when Harbor Miller struck in the sixth minute after Yamane’s cross exposed Cole Bassett and Oliver Larraz, leaving the Rapids chasing from the start.
Head coach Chris Armas admitted, “We just didn’t bring our all, which is disappointing.”
By halftime, the Rapids managed only 0.09 expected goals, with their closest effort coming from 25 yards out.
LA threatened again before the break through Tucker Lepley, and when Elijah Wynder doubled the lead ten minutes into the second half, the contest looked beyond Colorado.
Substitutions brought Paxten Aaronson’s debut, while LA responded by introducing their rested stars, and Gabriel Pec eventually sealed the 3-0 result in the 75th minute.
Armas stressed the issues went beyond tactics, saying, “It’s always about the basics—keeping the ball, intensity, decision making, box defending.”
Reggie Cannon described the night bluntly: “We kind of gave them the game. We made mistakes that definitely cost us in the end.”
Despite the heavy defeat, debuts for Aaronson, Rafael Santos, and Daouda Amadou offered a rare positive, with Armas praising Amadou’s confidence and ball-winning in midfield.
Cannon pointed to the influx of new arrivals this summer and said, “We’re heading in the right direction,” though Aaronson came agonizingly close to scoring when he hit the post in stoppage time.
The defeat also prolonged Colorado’s struggles, as the team has yet to string three straight wins together this season or complete a sweep against any opponent.
Armas brushed off the missed chance to sweep, stating, “We beat the Galaxy at home. They beat us in their building. It’s not easy to win in this league.”
The Rapids shifted between a 4-4-2 and later a 4-2-3-1 once Aaronson entered, giving a glimpse of possible setups heading into the final stretch of the season.
Colorado will now attempt to regroup quickly when they face Sporting KC on August 30th.
Article updated 1 month ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
