No doubt, this Colorado Rapids team is on a roll! It has been an absolutely fantastic season so far by any measure but especially coming off a historic low last season. Head Coach Chris Armas is surely in the running for Coach of the Year as very few expected this ship to be turned around so fast. Even Portland Timbers Head Coach Phil Neville agrees, who recently said "We're coming up against a coach who is probably one of the Coach of the Year candidates in Chris Armas, he's done an incredible job".
After arguably the worst performance of the year, a 4-0 defeat to the Portland Timbers in the Leagues Cup back in August, the Rapids have since knocked off four Liga MX teams to reach the semifinal of that tournament. Although they lost to LAFC in the semifinal, they won the third-place match against the Philly Union which secured a CONCACAF Champions Cup spot in 2025. The Rapids most recently mounted a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory against FC Dallas in MLS action. But they didn't forget about the Timbers! Make no mistake, this Saturday night is a revenge game for the Burgundy Boys. Chris Armas's side currently sits in 4th place in the Western Conference as they aim to secure a home match in MLS Cup (top 4 teams in each conference get home field advantage).
Colorado is playing with a fluidity in attack that we haven't seen in years. Not a single selfish player in the attacking group. Everyone is contributing. The area of concern is the defense. After losing star Canadian defender Moise Bombito to Nice in Ligue 1 for approximately $7.7 million plus incentives that could reach $10.7 million, there hasn't been a replacement to step in. Lalas Abubakar is an excellent depth piece, but you have to imagine the Rapids will be in the market for a younger center back this offseason. Not to mention that Abubakar's contract is ending so his future status is unclear. Bombito's recovery speed in unmatched in MLS, and perhaps historically as well, which is extremely difficult to overcome.
Portland also boasts an impressive attack anchored by Brazilian star Evander (12 goals and 16 assists) and Uruguayan Jonathan Rodriguez (13 goals and 6 assists). They're coming off a 1-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders. On paper, they have a very good squad from top to bottom. The Timbers currently sit in 8th place in the West which is just barely above the playoff line (top 9 out of 14 in the West qualify for MLS Cup). That being said, they're still only four points off of fourth place and not a team that anyone takes lightly.
Welcoming New Blood
In very big and surprising news, Reggie Cannon signed a three-and-a-half-year contract through the 2027 season, with a club option for an additional year. The club announced the deal this Wednesday and that Cannon was already in Colorado acclimating to his new environment and teammates.
(Image: Colorado Rapids)
The 26-year-old leaves QPR in the English Championship and previous stints with Boavista of the Portuguese League and FC Dallas where his career started. On the US National level, Cannon has 28 caps with the senior team where he scored once and added three assists. Add another American international to the list who's looking to fight his way back into the conversation to compete in the 2026 World Cup on US soil. Newly appointed USMNT manager, Mauricio Pochettino, and his staff will surely be keeping an eye on the plethora of American talent in Colorado moving forward. Cannon's best position is right back but he is versatile enough to play center back (in a back two or three) and left back. Some may recall the strong stance he took while at FC Dallas where fans threw objects at players who knelt during the national anthem in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. He called the fan's actions "disgusting" and refused to publicly use the prepared apology by the club. With his inclusion in the team, it will be interesting to see tactically if Keegan Rosenberry slides into a center back role as Cannon offers more speed on the outside.
What's really moved the needle this season?
Hitting on your big signings. Yes, the coaching change and team chemistry has been extremely important. However, you cannot underestimate what a difference it's made, for this club in particular, to be ambitious with their higher earning players. Considering the roster rules in place, this can be very challenging. If one of your key signings is a flop or gets injured, it can derail an entire season for MLS squads.
The stars on this Rapids team are all playing excellent soccer right now. Djordje Mihailovic is the centerpiece in the #10 role as he recently became the second Colorado Rapids player ever, to tally10 goals and10 assists in a single season. Meanwhile, star Brazilian striker Rafael Navarro is coming off a brace in his last outing bringing him up to 13 goals this season. Rafa as he's known, pronounced Ha-fa, is chasing the club record of 16 goals in a season (set by Connor Casey and tied by Chilean Diego Rubio in 2022) with 7 games remaining in the season. In the net, Zack Steffen has played phenomenally this season as he continues to push to make the USMNT roster. His highlight reel keeps growing with multiple superhero diving saves, one on one breakaways and several penalties that didn't just keep the team in it, but rather game winning moments between the sticks. These three players have really stuck out, but the likes of midfielders Cole Bassett, Oliver Larraz, Omir Fernandez, Calvin Harris and team captain Keegan Rosenberry have all been outstanding as well. It doesn't appear that any players have regressed in their production this year which speaks to the top tier coaching and development in the club.
Previously, this organization has been hesitant to spend and perhaps that was in part due to big signings not living up to expectations. Not the case this year. A generous mix of youth and some veteran players along with a hunger to prove themselves has proven to be a fantastic recipe for success. They're far from perfect but have a high ceiling as we approach the final legs of the MLS season.
Tactical Nerd Zone
There is no reason to expect any tactical changes as Armas and company have been very consistent all season. Expect to see a 4-2-3-1 formation this weekend, with a double pivot in central midfield, a pair of wingers and a true playmaker behind the single striker. The Rapids will not play a high press (unlike previous Armas teams) but occasionally pressure opponents to force mistakes without overcommitting. They also do not move the ball up field in a systematic, progressive passing system. Rather, they like to get a deep lying midfielder on the ball early and with time, then get the ball out to the wing. Once the ball gets out wide, it's a very direct attack. As the fullbacks support the attack down the wings, the wingers invert and overload the opposing defenders. Colorado has been efficient from the wing whether it's swinging in the early cross or a quick one-two pass down the middle.
There is not much rotation within the squad either. Since Kevin Cabral's injury, the wingers pick themselves in Omir Fernandez and Calvin Harris while Jon Lewis typically comes in off the bench. Oliver Larraz and Connor Ronan are the primary players who seem to swap in and out the most while Bassett retains his box-to-box midfield role in nearly every game. The young Denver native attacker, Darren Yapi, is usually the late attacking sub at striker or out wide. With Sam Vines injured, we've typically seen the Academy product Jackson Travis fill in at left back. However, with the signing of Reggie Cannon we could see a shake up to the back line as he can play literally any position in defense. Rapids fans would love to see an early goal but it's always a challenge for opposing teams to come to altitude (and I'm sure none of you are sick of hearing that one!) as they tire in the second half. Efficiency with the attacking opportunities and no breakdowns in the back are needed for a big three points this weekend. Why not the ______ Rapids?!?!
If you're going out to The Richard this Saturday, have a fantastic time enjoying the end of summer!
(Image: Colorado Rapids)
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