Rapids shut out by Orlando for second straight goalless home match ...Middle East

The identity that made the Colorado Rapids so dangerous a year ago has gone missing.

And after a second straight goalless loss at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday, that has them riding the already-loose MLS playoff line.

Finishing touches escaped the Rapids again in a 1-0 loss at home to Orlando City SC, in which just two of 14 shots were on frame. The club that prides itself on having a significant advantage at altitude has now lost two straight home games for the second time in the Chris Armas era.

The Rapids fell to 0-6-2 when conceding first (and 0-7-2 when trailing at halftime).

“One of the reasons why we were so good last year is we were on top of teams, we didn’t let them come here and feel comfortable,” said midfielder Cole Bassett, whose ankle kept him sidelined for multiple games before appearing as a sub against Orlando. After the match, he said he played through a pop and some pain during the game and has not felt good “all year.”

“We would press (teams) a lot, and I think right now, at least getting a bird’s eye view or watching from afar, it doesn’t look like Colorado Rapids football. I don’t think we’re getting after teams enough and putting them under pressure and playing that high-intensity football we were known for last year.”

In the 24th minute, appeals for a foul turned into a fatal counterattack for Orlando after Rafael Navarro collided with an Orlando defender on a somewhat promising attack near the Rapids’ attacking third. A couple of passes later, the ball found Martin Ojeda on the left and he sent a shot low to the near post.

Finally, third-string goalkeeper Nico Hansen looked human, allowing the ball to bounce off a strong paw and into the top netting.

The Rapids’ best chance was their first shot on goal, which came in the 50th minute. Sam Vines, who made his first start in a month, got the ball down the line and whipped a great cross into Navarro, who got a strong header on it to the left side of the goal. Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese made a great diving save on the attempt.

Related Articles

Vines was one of the best players on the field for the Rapids, providing width and good service from a wing-back position, but he also nearly scored early. Colorado’s second-best chance came in the 19th minute, when a long ball by Hansen found Vines alone on goal. He chipped Gallese, but the shot went a couple of feet wide.

Still, the danger the Rapids can create in the micro can’t hide the fact that in the macro, they can’t put the ball in the back of the net. With 18 goals in as many games, only four teams in the league have scored fewer.

They’ve got a week and a half to right some of those wrongs before finishing their three-game home stand on June 25 against the league’s worst team in defending MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy, which has only won once in 18 games this year.

“It’s a tough moment for the team, but this page is going to turn eventually. … The biggest thing is that we get back to who we are,” midfielder Djordje Mihailovic said.

How exactly does that shift happen?

“It starts in training, guys showing up with the right mentality to work, guys showing up to prove that they want to be here and that they deserve to be here,” Mihailovic said.

Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.

Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Rapids shut out by Orlando for second straight goalless home match )

Also on site :

• Wyndham Clark Loses Temper, Goes Berserk in U.S. Open Locker Room
• Ukrainian official sends police after Russian-language singer
• Next Week on 'The Bold & the Beautiful' Taylor Wants Answers