For the second match in a row the Rapids will face a Western Conference foe they have played and defeated earlier in the season. At DSGP on April 12 the ‘Pids won 3-2 with this match seeing Darren Yapi start for the first time this season as well as scoring a goal. It was also the first time Armas went with a 4-2-2-2. The Rapids, having not won in their previous four matches, are now 9th in the West on 16 pts while San Diego is 4th on 20. San Diego is on a two game winning streak having defeated Dallas 5-0 at home and St. Louis 2-1 on the road. Multiple players have been major contributors in their attack this season - Anders Dreyer 5 goals, 5 assists Chucky Lozano 4 goals, 6 assists Onni Valakari 3 goallsl, 5 assists Meanwhile, the Rapids are reeling having not won since their first meeting with San Diego having two draws followed by two losses since that win. In this four game stretch they have conceded a whopping five goals in or close to stoppage time. It would seem that until this issue is rectified it will be hard to get wins. And May is not the month to lose form with a total of seven matches on the schedule. On the attacking side, Rafa Navarro is out for this match with a sprained ankle. He’s been an iron man thus far and it’s hard to know how the Rapids fair without his presence. Most likely Armas goes with Yapi up top, but who pairs with him? Kévin Cabral? Ted Ku-DiPietro? Calvin Harris? Regardless, Rafa’s hold up play, scoring threat and bulldog mentality will be sorely missed. Look for five substitutions again in this match - primarily in the midfield and up top. The weather looks to be favorable for soccer with the temperature in the 60s, partly cloudy skies and light winds. Next up, RSL come to DSGP on Saturday night.
No Navarro? Rut roe. On paper, a 2-0 loss. I can't help but agree with what it looks like on paper. Only hope is strong defense (which has been spotty) and Yapi scoring. With him as the primary target for SD's defense, I don't see it. Once again, I would love to be wrong. And I'm in a rotten mood already after the Nuggets last night. "Hey bartender, make it a double."
2-0 loss. Maybe Mihailovic gets one on a set piece but otherwise the way we've played recently and without Navarro I don't have much hope. San Diego's possession game wilted under our pressure in the home match but a lot of that came from Rafa's work rate. I think SD is much more successful this time around. https://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2025/05/our-first-trip-to-san-diego.html
Awful first half from a weak lineup. Too many Rapids players just aren't MLS-starter quality. Lucky it isn't worse.
Lucky to be down just 1. Steffen has been an unconventional difference.m though he tried to give it away too.
This was a pathetic midweek showing. Everything and everyone - maybe with the exception of Steffen - was two steps behind. I didn’t think SD was all that great but we were so shit, it made SD look much better than they actually were. You have to get results on the road. It’s a must. We cannot keep dropping points on the road and expect to be a playoff team. This league doesn't work like that. where to we go from here? The spiral has begun……
Its kinda stunning how we went from looking reasonably good (not great, but still getting wins or points) to basically 2023-tier in the span of about 3 weeks. I think it probably boils down to bad roster construction and inadequate training facilities leading to more injuries up and down the squad.
The lineup last night won't win many, if any, MLS matches. Frederick, Yapi, Cabral, Ronan, Vines just don't seem to be good enough. They're all young, so maybe some of them will get better, but I'm not seeing it yet. Opponents have figured out that we're unlikely to score if they don't give us the ball in the attacking third.