The Colorado Rapids (4-3-4, 16 pts.) fall on the road against D.C. United (3-5-3, 12 pts.) in a 2-1 contest at Audi Field on Saturday night. Forward Darren Yapi’s second goal of the season was the lone score for Colorado. The Rapids will return home to face San Jose to start their upcoming stretch of three home matches over their next four.
Rapids First Assistant Coach Chris Little assumed head coaching duties tonight as Rapids Head Coach Chris Armas was unable to attend the match due to technical complications with his flight from Frisco, Texas, following his National Soccer Hall of Fame induction.
On a humid night in the nation’s capital, Colorado came to town looking to continue their stretch of solid performances so far in the 2025 MLS season.
The Rapids came out of the gate hot, creating multiple high-quality chances in the final third. The best of which came from Djordje Mihailovic in the fourth minute, just barely hitting the right post with a low shot. From there, Colorado continued their attack.
It wouldn’t be until later in the first half that this match would see its highest scoring output from both sides.
The Rapids managed to find the back of the net first in the 43rd minute. After midfielder Oliver Larraz played an accurate ball over the D.C. back line, forward Rafael Navarro controlled the ball and managed to send a cross in to a perfectly positioned Yapi, who headed the ball home to go up one.
The goal was the Homegrown player’s second of the season and the fourth of his career in MLS. Navarro’s assist on the goal was his first of the season and the sixth of his MLS career.
Despite the home side conceding, they managed to punch back with some attacks of their own, leading to more goals before the halftime break.
Starting the scoring for D.C. was Christian Benteke, who slotted one home in the fourth minute of stoppage time to equalize.
Three minutes later, Hosei Kijima found the back of the net to give D.C. the lead right before halftime.
Despite two lead changes right at the end of the half, the second half did not contain as many high-quality opportunities on both ends.
The match ended there, with the home side taking all three points in the inter-conference matchup.
“The message from them after the game was we've got a really good training week approaching the next three games—three out of four at home. We've got a big opportunity here to get points. We know how tough the West is. It's going to be tough, but we're a good team and we have good character,” said Little.
Other than an MLS match, Saturday night marked a homecoming for Rapids midfielder Ted Ku-DiPietro. The former D.C. Homegrown player made his first appearance against his old club after being subbed on in the 62nd minute. Colorado acquired Ku-DiPietro via trade this past offseason.
The Rapids will return home for a matchup with the San Jose Earthquakes on May 10. Kickoff at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park is set for 7:30 p.m. MT with coverage available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, ColoradoRapids.com, and the Colorado Rapids App.
