The Colorado Rapids did well to make it to halftime down just one goal to the L.A. Galaxy in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
The first 10 minutes of the second half made it clear that this Rapids team, out of gas and running out of impactful players, has run into an MLS Cup contender in immaculate form. The result: a deflating 5-0 loss heading back home to Colorado for Game 2.
The first half’s lone goal came on the Galaxy’s lone corner of the half. Forward Dejan Joveljic got his head on Riqui Puig’s high cross and beat Reggie Cannon vertically to get to it. The shot seemed straightforward but snuck past Zack Steffen’s diving hands to his left.
Then it got ugly. In the 52nd minute, Galaxy left back John Nelson received a pass from right back Miki Yamane in a dangerous position, which he took a touch and buried to the top right of the opposite corner past Steffen. Less than two minutes later, Joveljic returned Puig’s first-half favor with an assist to the Spanish midfielder to make it 3-0.
Joveljic secured his brace in the 75th minute and Puig earned one of his own with the finishing touches in the 87th minute.
The Rapids ruled star midfielder Djordje Mihailovic out with an ankle injury during the week leading up to the game but were expecting star Homegrown Cole Bassett to make a return after a month-long quad injury. As of Friday, the club said Bassett was good to go, but he suffered a setback and was deemed not match-fit prior to the match.
Boy, did the Rapids miss both of them. Omir Fernández, slotted into Mihailovic’s position at the 10, did not have much of an impact, but there was not much going team-wide. As in the past few games, the Rapids found dangerous chances but did not threaten Galaxy keeper John McCarthy at all.
In total, the Rapids rattled off just one shot to the Galaxy’s 19.
The Rapids still have a chance at the series with a home game next Friday at 7:30 p.m., then if needed, a game back at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday, Nov. 9.
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