The Big Picture
The Colorado Rapids fell to Nashville SC 4-1 on Wednesday night in their first visit to GEODIS Park. Gyasi Zardes led Colorado into halftime with an equalizer, but three second-half goals and a hat trick from Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar edged the Rapids out in Music City.
“We have good spells throughout the game. No one's gonna dominate for 90 straight minutes,” said defender Steven Beitashour after the loss. The MLS veteran recorded his 40th assist in the league in the matchup.
“But when you give away easy goals, simple mistakes, it changes the game. Goals change games and so vice versa on the attack, we got to finish our chances.”
The Burgundy Boys went down first in the 29th minute after Lucas Esteves took an unlucky penalty call while defending Randall Leal. Mukhtar converted the chance from the spot, but the Rapids were able to quickly get one back just minutes later when Diego Rubio neatly split Nashville’s defense to get Steven Beitashour the ball for a cross inside. The defender’s ball into the six-yard box was volleyed by Zardes to even the score going into halftime.
Zardes' goal was his eighth on the season in burgundy since joining the Rapids in April.
The second half saw Mukhtar net two more in the 54th and 75th minutes, split by a goal from Jacob Shaffelburg in the 61st.
With six games in hand, three of which are at home, the Rapids’ playoff chances cannot be written off.
“We just said before this trip that we feel like we need 15 points to get to the playoffs and we still have more than five games so I certainly don't feel as if it's over,” said Fraser. “The team doesn't feel as if it's over. It's obviously a really dark time for us at the moment….How we played the first half is how we need to play every minute for the rest of the season.”
Up Next
The Rapids are slated to take on D.C. United over the weekend to complete their three-game road tour. Kickoff at Audi Field is set for 5:30 p.m. MT.
