Since joining the Colorado Rapids, Connor Ronan never complained about playing a role he’s not accustomed to in the defensive midfield.
Wednesday night against MLS Western Conference leader LA Galaxy, he was rewarded with his first goal of the season — his second with the Rapids — on the way to a 3-1 loss.
Even on the 45th minute scoring move, Ronan made a play to stop a dangerous Galaxy counterattack after a Rapids corner kick was cleared toward a streaking Joseph Paintsil. Ronan broke it up and played a ball to defender Reggie Cannon. Two passes later, and midfielder Djordje Mihailovic got the assist on Ronan’s left-footed blast from distance to the far post.
After Ronan opened his account, he ran to the Rapids’ bench, where he and defender Lalas Abubakar held up a jersey toward the family suite that read “Monsieur Cabral” on the back. Kevin Cabral, whose father recently passed, was watching his teammates clap in his honor from the suite.
Despite a dominant first half from the Rapids, two quick second-half goals from the Galaxy ultimately buried the Rapids. As a result, the 13-game unbeaten streak at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park was snapped and the Rapids slid to sixth in the Western Conference.
The first came in the 50th minute when Gabriel Pec beat Rapids defender Andreas Maxsø in a footrace and looked to have mishit a shot, but it trickled past Zack Steffen’s trailing foot anyway. Nine minutes later, Galaxy star Riqui Puig had the ball in a favorable two-on-one, cut inside and tucked it to the far corner.
Puig doubled his deposit and the Galaxy’s lead in the 90+1st minute.
And for the first time this season, the Rapids lost at home directly after a road loss. Prior to Wednesday night, the Rapids won four such matches and drew two.
The Rapids will need points this Saturday to keep hope of a home playoff advantage alive against the Seattle Sounders. The match will kick off at DSGP at 7:30 p.m.
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