The Colorado Rapids (11-15-8, 41 pts., 11th West) played to a 2-2 draw with LAFC (17-8-9, 60 pts., 3rd West) at home on Saturday night. Homegrown Darren Yapi and Designated Player Paxten Aaronson provided the goals for Colorado as their attempt to clinch a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs came just short.
Heading into the night, Colorado needed a positive result plus some help in order to clinch their spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs. The club had their eyes on both Dallas and Salt Lake’s matchups, needing a draw or loss from either in order to give the club a fighting chance at a Wild Card spot.
The Rapids created positive attacking chances early, with opportunities from Rafael Navarro and Darren Yapi coming up just short. LAFC countered with chances of their own soon after as the clubs began to trade chances throughout the first half. Despite both teams creating, it would be the visitors who struck first.
After receiving the ball along the left wing, LAFC’s Son Heung-Min made a few moves on the ball and cut to his left foot for a shot that found the roof of the net to put his side up 1-0.
The half would end there, but the Rapids came out of the break on the front foot to try and take all three points.
Right from the jump, Colorado’s attack was ready in their hopes of finding an equalizer. The club increased their suffocating press, eventually forcing a mistake by one of the league’s best goalkeepers, Hugo Lloris.
LAFC began the play on their back line, looking to create an opportunity up the field. After seeing no option, the ball was played back to Lloris, who didn’t account for a high-pressing Paxten Aaronson. The Designated Player read the goalkeeper’s eyes and perfectly placed his foot to deflect the long ball right into the back of the net to even the scoreline at one.
The goal marked Aaronson’s first as a member of the Rapids since joining this summer. The midfielder has now scored 13 goals in his MLS career, this being his first since August 6, 2022, with the Philadelphia Union before his transfer over to Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Rapids kept their pressure up, with the other results across the league requiring a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Colorado managed to get another scoring opportunity, with Homegrown Darren Yapi being the catalyst.
The play started with Keegan Rosenberry controlling the ball down the right wing. The Rapids’ captain then played a pass to Oliver Larraz, who quickly whipped a ball right into the center of the box to find a diving Yapi, who buried home a header to give Colorado the lead.
The goal marked Yapi’s eighth of the season, extending his single-season career high. The forward became the second Homegrown player in Rapids history to reach 10 career goals, joining teammate Cole Bassett.
Despite taking the lead, LAFC would strike back shortly after, with Andrew Moran finding the back of the net in the 90th minute to level the score at two.
The match would end there, with the two sides sharing a point and the Rapids season ending on Decision Day.
