Photo credit: Pat Radigan / Footy at 5280
Coach Matt Wells: “We are devoid of grit”
In a cup semifinal, it’s not crazy to think you’ll concede a goal, but this Colorado Rapids team aimed to continue its strong streak of six home clean sheets post-World Cup. The way the streak ended, though, couldn’t have been more miserable.
Adam Beaudry, who was in goal for a suspended Nico Hansen, mishandled a back pass while trying to switch the play. Jeong Sang-Bin pounced, took it away and tapped it in for the opening goal of the night in the 32nd minute. It set the tone for what would turn into an embarrassing 3-0 loss to red-hot St. Louis CITY.
For the second time in three seasons, the Rapids were emphatically knocked out of a cup semifinal. Last time out was in the 2024 Leagues Cup semifinal at LAFC, where the Rapids were eliminated by a score of 4-0.
This matchup, though, was interesting on paper because of the streaks both teams held. St. Louis came into Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on a 16-game unbeaten run that started in Colorado back on May 9. The Rapids have not conceded a goal at DSGP since the World Cup break, winning all six of those matches to set a club record.
The unstoppable force barrelled through the immovable object. And the Rapids remain without a draw or a win after conceding first in any competition this season. For coach Matt Wells, it’s a mentality issue.
“When we are 1-0 down, we are devoid of grit,” Wells said. “The ability to overcome any obstacle with positivity and perseverance, that’s what we need to find as a team. As much as I’m hurting tonight, it’s a necessary pain if we use it properly.”
St. Louis doubled its lead in the 52nd minute on a swift counterattack. Paxten Aaronson was taken down at the top of CITY’s box, then St. Louis launched it down the right wing in between Miguel Navarro and Rob Holding for Conrad Wallem.
He laid it off for Simon Becher, who had miles of space between himself and the nearest defender as he raced toward Beaudry. It was a training-ground finish to the bottom right corner. VAR upheld the no-call on the potential foul on Aaronson in the buildup.
Less than 10 minutes later, Wallem lobbed a free kick to the top of the Rapids’ box, where Tomas Totland skimmed it off his head to Alexandru Matan. Like Becher’s, Matan’s finish was straightforward after he got his first touch right.
Wells defended his staff’s tactical plan, calling the night a “good tactical battle” despite the scoreline, which was mostly true aside from CITY’s goals. He did note, however, a team-wide dejection after conceding against St. Louis.
“I’ve got to do a better job in solving this mentality issue we have, or this lack of belief when we’re behind,” Wells said. “…It’s a thought process I can’t escape, because without that quality, how can you win MLS Cup? How can you go deep into the playoffs? You can’t. It’s impossible to think that between now and the end of the season, we can go every game scoring first. We’d be living in fairyland there.
“We have to find the capacity to (have belief when conceding) on an individual level.”
St. Louis will move on to face the Columbus Crew, which beat Orlando City, 2-1, in the match prior. St. Louis, founded in 2019, has never reached a final. The Crew won the Open Cup in 2002.
