DENVER — As the clock struck 2:30 p.m, 75,824 fans awaiting kickoff filled Empower Field, marking the second-highest single game attendance in MLS history. Audiences from around the country made their way to downtown Denver as the Colorado Rapids prepared to face off against reigning MLS Cup champions Inter Miami FC, welcoming legend Lionel Messi to the Mile High.
Despite hometown energy, it was evident the impact that Messi, known to be one of the greatest players of all time, brought to the stadium. Showcasing two goals throughout the match, Messi and the Eastern Conference team defeated the Rapids this afternoon 3-2 in fulltime.
The long awaited weekend began with a series of fan engagement activities. The organization scheduled numerous events throughout the week to prepare for the teams return to the stadium and celebrate the club’s 30th anniversary of their inaugural match April 21, 1996.
30 years ago, the Rapids hosted the Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas) at Mile High Stadium (now Empower Field), where they secured a 3-1 victory, led by a brace from Rapids legend Marcelo Balboa. He, among 60+ other Rapids alumni, were in attendance and honored prior to the match.
As the teams prepared to take the pitch, the stadium roared in excitement. Typically Rapids traditions such as flag ceremonies, national anthem and pyrotechnics filled the upcoming moments, in addition to the incorporation of Denver Broncos based traditions. Multiple parachuters flew into the southern half of the pitch, dropping the game ball on their way down.
The Rapids starting lineup showcased arguably their most competitive starting XI this season. Including all three goalscorers of the team’s previous regular season match, and 6-2 win against the Houston Dynamo. Kosi Thompson, Rafael Navarro and Josh Atencio each regained starting positions throughout the pitch.
Senior captain Zack Steffen remained at goal, with Thompson, Lucas Herrington, Rob Holding and Jackson Travis on the back line. Wayne Frederick, Atencio, Hamzat Ojediran and Paxten Aaronson were positioned in the midfield, while Navarro and Georgi Minoungou held forward positions.
The match marked Minoungou’s first start as a Rapid since joining the team from the Seattle Sounders earlier this season. In his first appearance last week against Houston, he was responsible for an assist and totaled 22 minutes as a substitute, with an additional 35 minutes Tuesday in the teams U.S Open Cup win.
“Georgi we know, you’ve seen him in Seattle, how dangerous he is 1v1 and how he can create chances out of nothing,” homegrown forward Darren Yapi said in regard to Minoungou’s talents. “To have him on the team is huge. It’s only going to make us better.”
Out of the gate, Minoungou and the Rapids offensive showcased heavy pressure. By the end of the match, Colorado achieved 61.1% of possession, with 503 total passes and an accuracy of 88.3.
In response to the high energy, Atencio received a yellow card in the 18th minute after fouling Miami’ s Yannick Bright. Directly following, Messi opened the scoreboard with a penalty goal to the lower right zone bringing Miami to an early 1-0 lead and a roar throughout the stadium, while the Rapids fought to maintain their momentum.
“Of course there’s moments in the goals that we need to analyze and improve. But, that’s not the headline, that’s not the story,” Rapids head coach Matt Wells said. “We were the dominant team on the pitch today.”
Totaling four yellow cards per team by the end of the match, the sequence began for Miami in the 22nd minute. Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul and defenseman Micael dos Santos received back-to-back yellow cards.
Fighting to enter halftime at par with the reigning champions, Aaronson, Frederick and Ojediran all produced missed attempts in the final minutes of the first half. Despite best efforts and a missed free kick by Messi moments before, Miami designated player Germán Berterame scored in 45+5 to enter halftime up 2-0, to expand the deficit.
Entering the second half, a continuous back and fourth showcased the Rapids offense and ability to regain possession. With the same energy, Navarro found the ball in the midfield and charged through the Miami defense before obtaining a successful goal in the 58th minute. A shot to the bottom right corner assisted by Frederick and a second assist from Atecio, marked the Rapids first goal of the match and another record achieved for Navarro.
With the inclusion of his goal this afternoon, Navarro ranks second in the MLS for total goals scored this season and first in total goal contributions in MLS this season with 10 in his last six appearances.
Optimistic for another goal, Wells began to enter substitutes in the 61st minute, entering Yapi for Ojediran. Yapi, who was expected to have been in the starting eleven, has become one of the most well-known homegrown players in Rapids history,
Proving just why, Yapi found the goal almost immediately. A shot to the lower left zone, assisted by Herrington and a second assist from Atencio, making his second of the day, allowed the team to tie the match 2-2 halfway through the second half.
In hopes to score another goal, missed attempts from Georgi and Yapi, and yellow cards by Frederick and Herrington highlighted the eagerness from the young Colorado team.
Messi continued to showcase throughout the match how he has gained his reputation. The Argentinian World Cup MVP and top goalscorer in the 21st century brought in his second goal of the day in the 79th minute. An impressive goal to the top left corner left most of the stadium in awe.
“These things can’t intimidate us,” Yappi said. “We obviously know Messi is the best player of this past generation. If we want to win the MLS Cup, we’re going to have to play against thousands of people, against top players, so if that was going to affect us, we don’t deserve to be in the MLS Cup.”
With Miami now leading 3-2 heading towards the end of the match, the Rapids were forced to minimize scoring attempts and position players more defensively. Dante Sealy entered the match for Aaronson alongside Alex Harris for Atencio in the concluding minutes.
Shots from Yapi, Sealy and Travis all gave Rapids fans hope prior to the conclusion of the game. Miami fouls persisted. Telasco Segovia was given a yellow card in the 86th minute. Directly following, Yannick Bright received a red card and was escorted off the field and an additional yellow for Messi in 90+3. Rapids Travis was given a yellow as well.
Inter Miami was able to secure the 3-2 win this afternoon, to disregard the Rapids prior record of being undefeated at home. The team remains adamant that they put their best foot forward and is hopeful that by showcasing team talent and energy that Colorado fans will be drawn to more games at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park for the near future.
“More important than any three points or any performance is you’re doing something bigger than that, you’re changing the status quo in the MLS. You put in the new fan respect on Colorado, and the badge,” Wells said.
A big week is ahead for the Colorado team. To begin a two-week away stretch, the Rapids will face LAFC Wednesday, April 22, with kickoff set for 8:30 p.m. They will then travel to Vancouver for a Saturday match April 25, that will also kickoff at 8:30 p.m
