Rapids shut out by Orlando for second straight goalless home match

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 - loss at home to Orlando City SC in which just two of shots were on frame The club that prides itself on having a essential advantage at altitude has now lost two straight home games for the second time in the Chris Armas era The Rapids fell to - - when conceding first and - - 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 content reported midfielder Cole Bassett whose ankle kept him sidelined for multiple games before appearing as a sub against Orlando After the match he mentioned he played through a pop and specific pain during the battle 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 th 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 discovered Martin Ojeda on the left and he sent a shot low to the near post At last 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 th 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 Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese reacts after stopping a shot in the second half of an MLS soccer match against the Colorado Rapids Saturday June in Commerce City Colo AP Photo David Zalubowski Related Articles Colorado Rapids Zack Steffen undergoes knee surgery Rapids agree to transfer fee on Israeli international center back Stav Lemkin sources say Rapids shut out by Austin FC at home lose second straight Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffen departs USMNT camp with knee injury Three Points Djordje Mihailovic shows why he deserves USMNT spot for Gold Cup Vines was one of the best players on the field for the Rapids providing width and good amenity from a wing-back position but he also nearly scored early Colorado s second-best chance came in the th minute when a long ball by Hansen exposed 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 goals in as plenty of games only four teams in the league have scored fewer They ve got a week and a half to right several of those wrongs before finishing their three-game home stand on June against the league s worst unit in defending MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy which has only won once in games this year It s a tough moment for the club but this page is going to turn eventually The biggest thing is that we get back to who we are midfielder Djordje Mihailovic reported 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 disclosed Want more sports news Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver s teams