When a team sits in the middle of the MLS standings like the Colorado Rapids, capitalizing on narrow margins becomes crucial.
After failing to do so in a 1-0 defeat at Houston on May 2, Colorado looks to secure a full three points on Saturday night when they host struggling St. Louis City in Commerce City, Colo.
Rapids head coach Matt Wells emphasized the need for his squad to find an early rhythm in matches.
“We have to find ways to put points on the board even when we’re not at our best,” Wells said. “Right now, if we can’t find our stride and rhythm, we end up on the wrong side of these tight games decided by small margins.”
Colorado (4-6-1, 13 points) holds a losing record despite outscoring opponents 22-19. They rank tied for third in league scoring but are tied for 19th in goals conceded. Rafael Navarro leads with seven goals, while Darren Yapi and Paxten Aaronson each have three.
Yapi, a Denver-area native, signed a contract on Tuesday that keeps him with the club through the 2028-29 season, with an option for 2029-30.
As Colorado seeks its top form, St. Louis (1-6-3, 6 points) continues to struggle, a trend that has persisted since their memorable expansion season in 2023. St. Louis City are coming off a 2-0 loss in Austin on Sunday, dropping them to 0-3-2 in their last five matches.
During that stretch, they have been outscored 11-5, extending a season-long struggle to find the net. With just nine goals in 10 games, they are tied for the second-fewest in the league, while their previously stingy defense has slipped to the middle of the pack, having conceded 18 goals.
Despite the results, players like Eduard Lowen remain confident in the system of first-year coach Yoann Damet.
“I’m more confident than ever,” Lowen said. “The results haven’t come, and we’re not where we want to be. Once the results start coming, we’ll have a bright future ahead.”
