Rapids’ season comes to end with 3- 0 loss at Minnesota United FC.
Loons outwork young Colorado team in playoff matchup
Minnesota United FC had not lost a game in 2020 when scoring first entering Sunday night’s do- or- die matchup against the Colorado Rapids — and the Loons still haven’t.
Minnesota netted an early goal in the MLS Cup Playoffs match at Allianz Field, then sat back and countered any Rapids chances to claim a 3- 0 victory that ended Colorado’s season.
“It’s not very often you lose a game 3- 0 and you think that you should have won,” Rapids coach Robin Fraser said. “This is a young team going through this experience for the first time. You have to be able to be solid, which we were throughout most of night, but not as consistently as we needed.”
The Loons used the Rapids’ youth against them and outworked Colorado. Emanuel Reynoso assisted on all three scores and Kevin Molino scored twice to send the Rapids packing.
A benign throw- in on the Rapids’ side of the field turned disastrous in the 22nd minute when sloppy defending let a ball squirt through. Molino won the loose ball to Reynoso, who dribbled to the top of the box before being taken off the ball. It was left for Molino straight away and he sent it past William Yarbrough. The play originated on the left side of the field where Sam Vines normally would be. The Rapids ironman started the game on the bench because of a hamstring injury. He subbed on late and Kellyn Acosta played left back for the first time in years.
“Vines was hurt, we were being cautious and didn’t want to play him,” Fraser said. “Kellyn did a really good job, his decision making was very good.”
Less than 10 minutes later Reynoso tried to capitalize on the counter- attack. A threeonone rush for the Loons ended with Reynoso hitting the post.
Just after the break, the Rapids came out on fire. Getting top- notch scoring chances, the Rapids were not able to score.
Cole Bassett had a few opportunities in a several- minute span, including one where goalie Dayne St. Clair was on the ground but Bakaye Dibassy cleared it off the goaline. There was a sequence that ended with Nico Benezet being dragged down in the box, but no foul was called.
The Rapids are the only team in MLS to not earn a penalty kick this year.
The pressure without punctuation was costly.
An errant pass from Jack Price was intercepted in the midfield which led to a 3- on- 3 counter the other way. Reynoso grounded a pass wide to Robin Lod. The Finnish attacker finished the rush by catching Yarbrough out of position, making Minnesota’s lead 2- 0.
“There’s times where we turned over too easily. We knew the pressure was coming, we just have to be better individually at times,” Price said. “The second goal to give the ball away in the midfield, it’s unlike me and I shouldn’t ever do that but I’ll learn from it, I won’t do it again.”
A tired Rapids team could not do much when Molino found a loose ball in the box in the 79th minute. Molino chipped it over Yarbrough, giving the Loons their third goal. A good passing play from Reynoso and Jan Gregus led to the insurance score.
“We’re obviously proud of making the playoffs, but we’re still very disappointed. We felt like we deserved more tonight,” Price said. “Being more clinical and execution, that was the difference between them and us. They have a more experienced team. We’ll come back stronger and we will be the experienced team.”