The Colorado Rapids earned all three points in their 2-0 win against the Portland Timbers playing for the first time at home in 2026. Matt Wells was in search of a strong performance following a poor showing the week before on the road in Seattle. With another home match on the horizon, Colorado will want to keep building momentum ahead of their three game road spell throughout March. Just how strong was their performance against the Timbers? What are some problem spots still persistent in the team? And just how good is this team at home against a stronger opponent? All that and more on this Box State Footy Game Preview.
Rapids Report
Last Match: Colorado Rapids 2 - 0 Portland Timbers
A bounce back game at home is exactly what was needed for vibes' sake. An early Hamzat Ojediran opening goal helped the team control the first half and a Lucas Herrington game winner, early in the second half, was all that was needed for the team to cruise into all three points. A late Jimer Fory red card all but confirmed the result for the Pids.
Last week's match preview harped about the team's lack of chances in the Seattle game. The Sounders allowed the Rapids very little time to progress the ball and their attacking sequences were far and few between. At home, the attacking ideas were a lot more evident and, against a less structured Timbers team, the Rapids showed their quality on the front foot.
Portland haphazardly pressed Colorado's backline but the Pids were able to repeatedly navigate through that press and found plenty of space behind the duo of Cole Bassett and Diego Chara. This space allowed the Rapids to maintain strong field position and from there the dynamism was on full display.
What was missing from that first Seattle game was Paxten Aaronson's tidy work off the ball. The 22-year-old Designated Player showcased more of his physical game dropping deep into midfield space to help win the ball and be an outlet after breaking Portland's press. Once the Timbers' pressing intensity plateaued, the Rapids had an easier time maintaining a strong midfield position and implemented more of their style with the ball.
Whilst in possession, Ojediran would drop to form a backline three and provided much needed cover to allow Reggie Cannon to make supporting attacking runs on the right side. The interesting thing to note about Cannon was that he wasn't providing overlapping runs but instead found himself cutting inside and was not only a willing runner but also an attacking threat.
Dante Sealy's ability to stretch the right side of the field forced Portland to address both players. Sealy had a quiet game on the ball, but it's these little things that allow the rest of the team's identity to manifest. If Sealy couldn't dribble past his man or if Cannon lacked space in the channel, the Rapids would recycle the ball and look for an exit through the left side. Alex Harris earned his first start for the Rapids and, like Sealy, had a quiet game but his presence out wide allowed the team to play their game. A more experienced and talented winger gives Colorado a different edge but for a second-year draft pick, after very limited minutes last season, he did a serviceable job.
What hasn't already been said about this backline? More notably, Lucas Herrington who is quickly becoming a star. Comparisons are already being made to Moise Bombito who's explosive development netted the Rapids a club-record fee of $7.7 million dollars. Herrington is in a position do the same and if the Australian National Team calls him up to their World Cup roster, he's likely gone much sooner than later.
In my season preview, I wiped the slate clean for a one Rob Holding (while still taking note of his salary) who proved his worth in this game and paired very well with Herrington. His presence in the back line, combined with Herrington's developing play, made for a strong center half duo. Holding's passing made up a good chunk of the Rapids total passes into the final third.
If the Rapids are still pursuing Loic Williams' signature, contrary to what I wrote in the preview, it seems more likely that he's the contingency plan for a likely Herrington departure than for a preparation of Holding's expiring contract.
Jackson Travis also had a marvelous game. The homegrown left back has largely been shaky playing out of the left back position, but in the home opener there was a fearlessness and DAWG that had finally come out. Both he and Cannon had their best games as Rapids players. Where Cannon added offensively, Travis defensively was very sound. His 0.24 interrupting G+/96 was the highest amongst the team for this game. There's still a lot of his game that is developing but to see some strong defensive chops from the homegrown is a positive first step.
Zack Steffen did Zack Steffen things. There was a moment early in the match where former Rapid Cole Bassett had a glancing header that Steffen was up to the task for. Bassett was seen smiling after this attempt, likely thinking he'd get more (he wouldn't), but every time Steffen was called upon to make a save he remained composed in net and kept the sheet clean. While I may have some reservations about his ability playing out of the back, against the Timbers his performance against the ball stood out more than any moment with him on it.
It was also really nice to see an emphasis on set pieces this season. The ideas both from the corner and free kick spots were mesmerizing. The set piece routine itself of the players lining up offside, shifting collectively into each of their markers and then as a unit coming back onside was quite the treat to see. The Pids did it for almost all of their set pieces and racked up some very threatening chances.
Now for some nitpicks. I promised they'd be coming!
Given that Ojediran played deeper along the backline, Josh Atencio was used as a ball progressor in midfield. He had an okay game. He did well to crowd space and win the ball back in midfield – there was less of him in the final third! However, Atencio still lacks the ability to positively move the ball into dangerous zones. He had just one progressive action in the match against Portland.
Now, much like Sealy and Harris who had quiet games, it could be that Atencio's play allows the team to implement their style and tactics. But when looking at his role, within the larger structure, what does he do? What should he be doing? Against Portland – after breaking their press – you can be more of a passenger in build up, but against more organized teams there's a worry that simply occupying that space will not be enough. I'm setting the Atencio assist line at 3.5 and hoping he crushes it if he's going to be the primary two-way midfielder. Perhaps a Connor Ronan start could be in the cards?
Alex Harris may not have had the immediate impact many fans were hoping to see, but one player who is expected to make an impact, week after week, was notably missing from the box score. Rafael Navarro fits exceptionally well within the Wells system, but his decisions in the attacking third simply need to be better.
The advanced stats LOVED Navarro in this game. He did a lot of positive work on and off the ball. He notably did not score though and he had his moments where he could have.
Rafael Navarro - All Shots
There are a lot of forwards in MLS that can press, win the ball back, and build upon positive hold up play. Plenty in USL as well who can reliably fit within a system without having to be the focal point. There are far less of those forwards that can score consistently at a clip.
As of right now, very early on admittedly, there hasn't been anything separating Navarro's game from the rest of the pack . As a DP, the Brazilian striker has to be far more than serviceable given how small the margins are for error in this league. For Navarro, this is a match to build upon, and while it's not likely the Rapids will continue to get as many bites at the apple against stiffer competition, he has to earn that DP contract one way or another.
Finally, during the match 'Downtown' Duane Brown and I discussed Matt Well's substitutes. We were both impressed with the changes made in Seattle and there seems to be a lot more levers that the head coach is moving as the game state and flow of the match shifts and changes. One of these levers, which left me unimpressed, was Wayne Frederick II coming on midway through the second half for Ojederian; the second time in two games. Overall, the Rapids dropped a lot of their intensity in midfield and while they had control of the match, with a red card helping them even more later on, I did wonder if this sub would have bit the team later during the more late chaotic sequences of play. I also felt the Darren Yapi sub at winger confirmed more about his best position being – not goalkeeper, not winger – center forward. I would love to have seen Yapi as the lone striker given Navarro had not been particularly clinical in his moments.
The one sub I did really enjoy seeing, pivoting back to good moments, is Theodore Ku-DiPietro who is looking more and more like the player I had high hopes for in 2025. KDP has looked brilliant in both of his sub appearances and I think it's only a matter of time until he gets the start: either at the wing or as the central attacking midfielder.
Overall, it was a very strong home result for the Rapids. Though, as I've alluded to, what does this look like against stiffer competition? Colorado will welcome that stiffer competition with a visit from the LA Galaxy.
Opposition Scouting Report
Last Match: LA Galaxy 3 - 0 Charlotte FC
The LA Galaxy had a historically bad season last year. It was one of my own personal highlights and I thoroughly enjoyed their early consistent mix of bad luck, bad decision making, and bad performances. Many were witnesses to the shocking collapse of an MLS Cup Champion to the historic lows of setting the record for the worst start in league history.
You know the story: Riqui Puig went down in the Western Conference Semis and was unavailable for the season; the goalkeeper unit was tinkered one too many times early on; and despite the winless run, Greg Vanney was re-signed with the team doubling down on his Cup-winning efforts.
Alex Ruiz
The team had "stabilized" after the Leagues Cup break and many of the young players on the team found some minutes amidst their disaster season. If there was ever a case to be made for a split season (Apertura and Clausura style), the Galaxy have a strong one with their 2025 season.
The Rapids would meet the bulk of these young players head-on following a shake up of their own in the aftermath of the Mihailovic trade. Colorado had every reason to win this match given how far the Galaxy's season had gotten away from them and the lineup they sent out was almost entirely a B-team. (Seriously, how do you not score against J.T. Marcinkowski?)
The Galaxy will be without Puig for another season. Say what you will about your schadenfreude of the Galaxy, no player deserves to go through what he's currently going through and the league, as a whole, is worse without him suiting up for the Galaxy week in and week out.
Los Angeles have addressed his absence this year far better than in 2025. Joao Klauss was cashferred from St. Louis CITY. He scored two goals in the Galaxy's match against Charlotte FC. Justin Haak was signed via free agency before the Puig news, but his utility as both a center back and holding midfielder adds much needed stability to a team that had plenty of holes last season. Much to my surprise, he came off the bench in their last match. The last addition to make up the Puig-less Galaxy is Erik Thommy, also signed via free agency. He has a similar tactical role to that of Puig but far from the same quality. Thommy's production has nosedived since the height of his SKC days, but he adds some level of chance creation the team has been without in midfield.
Leading the attack for the Galaxy is Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil; two players Rapids faithful are very familiar with. The two wingers stretch the field quite a lot often looking for wide switches of play, driven through balls into their respective channels, or long plays behind opposition fullback spaces. Puig did a great job quarterbacking for the two dropping deep to collect the ball and launching the ball into their stride. Charlotte FC naively allowed the Galaxy plenty of time and space on the ball to execute their attacking gameplan and LA made them pay.
Against Charlotte, the Galaxy did not press for the ball and a lot of their engagement comes from winning second balls after launching it up to the wingers. The midfield three of Lucas Sanabria, Elijah Wynder, and Edwin Cerrillo did really well to win the ball back in midfield and they either hit the surging wingers immediately into space or recycled the ball to their backline for more of those long balls in behind. Miki Yamane and Julian Aude provided the width necessary to relieve pressure. They were able to do so given they upgraded from Mathias "Zanka" Jorgensen to one of the better center backs in MLS this decade in Jakob Glesnes. Glesnes presence in the backline, with veteran leader Maya Yoshida, makes for a solid foundation to execute this style.
Another year without Puig is rough, but not as rough as last year; they're much better prepared for his absence this year. They're already four points better after two games than where they were last season. With their new signings, added to further highlight their strengths in Pec and Painstil, this is a team that will be a strong marker for success in the Western Conference. As much as a test this next match is for the Rapids, it will also be one for the Galaxy who have yet to play a Western Conference team and have yet to play on the road this season.
Match Preview
I implore you to watch Charlotte FC's play in that match and compare it to that of the Rapids. Where Charlotte is fine to cede space, Colorado will want to occupy as much of it as possible. Where Charlotte is fine to not put pressure on the ball, Wells has reiterated intently how much of it they want it. Where Charlotte struggled to combine passes out of their backline, the Rapids' commitment to playing out of the back could be a factor in their ability to progress the ball.
The Galaxy will look to force Colorado into a midfield battle. Outside of Pec, Painstil and Klauss, as a collective they are not likely to heavily press the ball and instead will try to catch this Pids team off guard during their buildup in the middle of the field, sneak Pec or Painstil in behind, and play a smash and grab style of footy. They have the quality to find the line breaking passes needed to find these two superstar players, but where exactly that final ball will come from is going to be key. Colorado are not going to allow them as much time and space as Charlotte did, but it only takes one good chance to get this team rolling. Edwin Cerrillo will be a focal piece at the base of the midfield and so long as he relieves pressure and wins the ball back for the Galaxy, they're sure to get their chances.
Colorado are still ways away from a Best XI. The win against the Timbers was a good step forward, but not a leap. Their play in the final third, outside of set piece creation, still needs to be refined and being able to break a Timbers press is a good feather in the cap of the Matt Wells system, but how does it stack up against a team with a more aggressive midfield, dynamic wingers who will make the most of their chances, and against a defense commandeered by Jakob Glesnes? You know what I say: more sample sizes please!
Availability Report
Colorado Rapids
- Zack Steffen - Shoulder (OUT)
Los Angeles Galaxy
- Chris Rindov - Leg (OUT)
- Emiro Garcés - Foot (OUT)
Projected Starting XI's
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Score Prediction: Colorado Rapids 2 - 2 Los Angeles Galaxy
Going for the draw, again, as my score prediction. The Galaxy have yet to truly be tested and with this being their first road game, they may not be as solidified in their style on the road than at home. Such will be the case if Colorado can force the Galaxy to expend some energy in welcoming any of their pressure and hitting on their own counter attacking style. Colorado will have to work hard for their goals and will have to fluster the Galaxy backline. For all the work Coloardo will do in the attack, LA will pounce and make the most of Pec and Painstil's quality. The Rapids will score from a set piece before a dodgy VAR call secures the point late for the Galaxy.
Goalscorers: Alex Harris, Rob Holding; Joao Klauss, Gabriel Pec.
