The Colorado Rapids have many flaws, but one potentially fatal one in a tight playoff race: They’re now 0-11-3 when conceding first.
The trend continued in a 3-1 loss at FC Dallas that felt eerily similar to Colorado’s last away match (at Sporting Kansas City). An early goal conceded, a quick response, then eventually a late goal by the opponent to seal it. Just this time, Dallas’ final tally was an own goal by Rapids defender Andreas Maxso in the 80th minute.
According to soccerstats.com, the Rapids are one of just four winless MLS teams after conceding first and are tied with New England for the worst overall record when the opponent scores first. In the same amount of those games (14), the Rapids (10 goals) have scored three less goals than New England.
“Most teams in the league don’t (win after conceding first), … but we have to get better at that,” Rapids coach Chris Armas said. “We go on the road with an idea to push the game and win the game, but tonight we didn’t do that.
“It’s hard to win on the road, harder when you concede first, but our team didn’t quit. … It’s not for lack of effort from the guys or from all of us.”
Dallas’ two strikers linked up to open the scoring early. In the 14th minute, Logan Farrington picked out Petar Musa perfectly for a header as he floated between Rob Holding and Rafael Santos for positioning in front of goal.
Just a few minutes later, Colorado’s Calvin Harris equalized with a misleading shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Rafael Santos had a good initial cross to Rafael Navarro, but it was cleared out to Harris to set up the shot. It was Harris’ fifth of the season, a new single-season career high for the fifth-year MLS winger.
Goalkeeper Zack Steffen committed a huge error for Dallas’ second goal. On a cross from Patrickson Delgado, Christian Cappis somehow stayed onside and stuck a foot out for a shot right at Steffen, but the ball slipped through his hands and across the goal line.
Colorado only got three shots on goal, and none of them looked too convincing outside of Harris’ strike. The best look at an equalizer in the second half was by Paxten Aaronson, but it was ultimately a hard strike right at the keeper.
Dallas moved to ninth in the Western Conference and is now two points away from catching eighth-place Colorado with a game in hand. Houston, in 10th place, beat Portland and is now also firmly in the race. The next two teams, both with games in hand, play on Sunday.
A week ago, the playoffs looked more than likely for the Rapids after a late winner against Houston, but this result and others around the West have quelled those hopes and will make for a nervous final three games of the season.
“I’ve said it for two years: We don’t get too high or low around here. We had our crack at (Dallas), we move forward now. We’re looking forward to Minnesota,” Armas said. “We’re in the mix, three games to go and two of them are at home. So we’re looking forward to one at a time.”
The Rapids, winless in three straight road matches, return home for a game against Western Conference power Minnesota United next Saturday at 7:30 p.m.