The Colorado Rapids were shut out for the first time this season as they fell to the visiting Houston Dynamo FC 1-0 on Saturday night, as the Texas side capitalized on a counter attack after defender Andreas Maxsø received contact to the face in the opposing box in second-half stoppage time.
The two sides battled for dominance in the center of the pitch for most of the night, until Houston found the back of the net in the 96th minute.
"Every game is on an upward trajectory," said midfielder Djordje Mihailovic after the match. "I think today was pretty evident, especially in the first half, the way we pressed. Chris [Armas] harps a lot about how important that is to score goals from that. We win the balls in these gray areas, I think the next step is creating chances out of it, using mistakes from the other team. Every week it’s improving a lot."
Colorado created chances throughout the match, generating 10 shots and 68 total final third entries on the night.
"It's difficult to score goals in this league," said Head Coach Chris Armas. "We work really hard at this aspect of our game in the final third, it's not a day that goes by in training that we're not repping the fine details, the space that they get into, the type of passes to deliver, the numbers to get into the box and when to arrive. So we work hard at this. We have a group that's capable, for sure. I think on a positive note in this manner we got into those spaces tonight. We had a number of balls across the face and cutbacks, it's just that these margins are thin, so we have to just be sharper and will get sharper, [it’s] still fairly early in the year."
Winger and 2024 SuperDraft pick Kimani Stewart-Baynes made his MLS debut in the contest, subbing on for Oliver Larraz in the 82nd minute.
"Happy to make my debut, [it's been a] long time coming. I've been working hard this week so I'm just happy to get the opportunity to get in, [make] my debut and get some good minutes with the first team," he said after the game.
Armas reflected on the growth he has seen from the 19-year-old since arriving the preseason with the team to his debut on Saturday after the match.
"Kimani had a really strong preseason with us and we know that he's a dynamic winger and he can create on his own and is a threat in many ways," he said. "We tried to use every resource tonight off the bench to really go for it. And in terms of Kimani, thrilled for him, because he earned those minutes...He's quick. He's intelligent, he knows how to use his weapon, and again, when we're looking for a goal we know that he's a threat.”
The Rapids will remain at altitude next weekend when they take on LAFC for the season's sole afternoon home match. Kickoff at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park is set for 2:00 p.m. MT on Saturday, March 30.
