Commerce City, CO – Colorado Rapids 2 suffered a setback Saturday, falling 4-1 to San Jose Earthquakes II at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The loss drops Rapids 2 to 0-3-1 on the MLS NEXT Pro season, with just one point through five matches. San Jose, meanwhile, improves to 2-1-1 and climbs to seven points in the Western Conference standings.
The match began promisingly for the home side. Just four minutes in, forward Bryce Jamison scored his first goal for the club, heading home a corner kick delivered by Sydney Wathuta. It was the earliest goal scored by Rapids 2 this season, injecting early energy into the contest. Wathuta’s assist also marked his first of the year. However, the momentum wouldn’t last. San Jose responded in the first half stoppage time, with Zachary Bohane leveling the score.
The second half saw a shift in control, with San Jose capitalizing on a Rapids 2 injury and ultimately overwhelming the Colorado defense. Kaedren Spivey put the Earthquakes II ahead in the 58th minute, shortly after Rapids 2 midfielder Andre Erickson was forced off the pitch with an injury. Five minutes later, an own goal extended San Jose’s lead to 3-1. Shane De Flores then sealed the victory for the visitors in the 69th minute, pushing the final scoreline to 4-1.
Early Promise Undone by Second-Half Surge
Despite the final result, Rapids 2 showed flashes of attacking intent in the opening stages. The combination play between Aquino and Wathuta leading to the corner kick and Jamison’s goal demonstrated the team’s potential. However, head coach Chris Little’s side struggled to maintain that intensity after the equalizer, and the loss of Erickson appeared to disrupt the team’s rhythm.
“We started the game really well, created some good opportunities, and got ourselves in a good position,” Little said in a post-match interview. “But we lost our discipline a little bit after the goal, and San Jose punished us for it.”
Erickson Injury Impacts Rapids 2 Momentum
The injury to Andre Erickson proved to be a turning point in the match. The midfielder’s absence left a void in the Rapids 2 midfield, and San Jose exploited the space effectively. The team’s ability to adjust to Erickson’s departure will be a key focus moving forward. The severity of Erickson’s injury has not yet been disclosed by the club.
Rapids 2 continued to press for goals even whereas trailing, with late chances falling to Wathuta and James Cameron, who came on as a substitute. Their persistence highlighted a “fight-to-the-end” mentality, but ultimately wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.
Looking Ahead: Road Trip to St. Louis
Rapids 2 will now embark on a two-week break before returning to action on the road against Saint Louis City 2 on Friday, April 10. Kickoff at Energizer Park in St. Louis, Missouri, is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. MT. The match will be available to stream on OneFootball.com and MLSNEXTPro.com. This road contest presents an opportunity for Rapids 2 to regroup and address the issues exposed in Saturday’s defeat.
Key Stats:
- Forward Bryce Jamison scored his first goal for Rapids 2.
- Jamison’s goal in the 4th minute marks the earliest goal scored by the club so far this season.
- Midfielder Sydney Wathuta recorded his first assist of the season.
Match Lineups
Colorado Rapids 2: Zackory Campagnolo, Charlie Harper, Kai Thomas, Jaden Chan Tack (25’ Andre Erickson), Sydney Wathuta, Nathan Tchoumba (76’ Landon Strohmeyer), Jabari De Coteau, Josh Copeland (46’ Quinn Bedwell), Donavan Phillip [C], Chris Aquino (76’ Rogelio Garcia), Bryce Jamison (76’ James Cameron)
Unused substitutes: Kendall Starks, Ali Fadal, Noah Strellnauer, Grant Gilmore
San Jose Earthquakes II: Nathan Crockford, Jack Jasinski, Max Floriani, Niklas Dossmann (82’ Yujin Kikuchi), Martin Mukah Kwende Jr. (65’ Shane De Flores), Kaedren Spivey (65’ Jacob Heisner), Rohan Rajagopal [C], Edwyn Mendoza (64’ Gabriel Bracken Serra), Nonso Adimabua (71’ Tomo Allen), Julian Donnery, Zachary Bohane
Unused substitutes: Connor Lambe
Referee: Steven Cardozo; Assistants: Charles Rupert, Joshua Mills; Fourth Official: Adam Rice
Rapids 2 will demand to address their defensive vulnerabilities and find more consistency in their attacking play if they hope to improve their results in the coming weeks. The match against Saint Louis City 2 will be a crucial test of their resilience and ability to bounce back from this disappointing home loss.
What are your thoughts on Rapids 2’s performance? Share your opinions and predictions for the upcoming match in the comments below.
