NFL
By Keith Richards
Week 2 of the 2025 Colorado Rapids competitive season is now complete! Heading into Week 3, the Rapids sit 10th in the Western Conference after Week 2. In addition, after falling to LAFC 1-0, Colorado is out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Colorado should still be satisfied and/or optimistic about where it stands.
Much was made about the lack of shots on goal, which was fair. The attack looked terrible against St. Louis in Week 1 and against LAFC in Week 2. However, I stand by my belief that it was prudent to panic. A healthy combination of the weather and the congested schedule made it a tough two weeks for Colorado to start the season. So, yes, it did look bad, but it was not as bad as it looked.
To end Week 2, the Rapids proved me half right. The attack exploded against FC Dallas. Three goals. 1.88 xG. 16 shots. Four big chances. Five shots on target. 83% passing accuracy. Six corners. In their Week 2 MLS match, Chris Armas had the Rapids playing in a 4-2-3-1, a 4-3-3, and a 4-4-2. It worked!
You must find the balance with the defense, but it’s the best the attack has looked in this young season. Why did it work? That’s what we’re here to discuss. The three players on the rise we will profile from Week 2 played a massive role in the FC Dallas goal barrage. So, let’s get to it!
Oliver Larraz
According to FotMob, Larraz is tied as the highest-rated player in the Rapids’ Week 2 FC Dallas match. A strong argument could be made that he should have been Man of the Match, but the honor went to Rafael Navarro. Both had an 8.8 rating, and the honor could have been awarded either. Offensively, Oli Larraz had his best first team performance in Week 2.
In 73 minutes, Larraz made his mark on the attack. Look at his numbers:
- 86% passing accuracy
- Assisted on two of the three goals
- Four chances created
- 100% accurate crosses (2)
- 100% accurate long balls (2)
- 46 attacking touches
I must eat a bit of crow. Going into Week 2, I thought Oli was the odd man out of the Starting XI; specifically, if Armas was going to hold fast on the 4-2-3-1. I thought Cole Bassett was the more versatile of the two and should be in that 8 position. Now, it’s important to say two things. First, the season is still young. It’s too early to make any profound assessments. Second, Bassett looked the best he has all season in the Week 2 MLS match.
Still, regarding the attack, Week 2 belongs to Oliver Larraz. Was it fool’s gold? Did they catch lightning in the bottle? We can’t say that with certainty. Do you ride with that attacking gameplan when you head to Austin? Absolutely! As the old saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
That is not to say that Cole Bassett needs to be removed from the Starting XI. However, I think it means the attack flows more through Larraz than Bassett—at least, it does now. In Week 2, Oliver Larraz is on the rise. Maybe it’s Cole Bassett in Week 3, but Larraz gets the praise for the moment.
Rafael Navarro
In Week 2, Rafael Navarro did what he does best against FC Dallas: score. In three matches against FC Dallas, Navarro has five goals. He scored once in one match and has two braces in the other two matches. Sometimes, there’s a team a player plays well against. For Rafa Navarro, it’s FC Dallas. In Week 2, he continued his assault on them.
With an 8.8 rating, Navarro was Colorado’s Man of the Match last Saturday. As I said above, the honor could have gone to Oliver Larraz, but Navarro was just as deserving. Matches like the Week 2 FC Dallas match prove why Padraig Smith, and the Colorado Rapids spent millions to acquire the Brazilian striker permanently.
Rafa will find the open spaces in front of the goal, whether the ball finds him or not. Navarro is the perfect striker for Chris Armas’ system. Much of what Coach Armas likes to do is all gas and no brakes. He presses the defense with a high line and presses harder on the attack. In that environment, Rafael Navarro thrives, which we saw in Week 2.
Against LAFC last Tuesday, Rafael Navarro did not have the goals to reward his efforts, but the effort was still there. Defensively, the Brazilian does everything he can to be a menace to the opposition when trying to get the ball into their attacking third. Against FC Dallas, Rafael was a pest defensively and continuously made timely runs offensively.
Navarro’s effort will always be 150%. If Djordje Mihailovic and Oliver Larraz can keep finding Rafa on his runs into dangerous areas, I see no reason why the Rapids’ number 9 cannot score 20+ goals this season.
Kevin Cabral
Kevin Cabral is a player that will fill you with rage and ecstasy. There are times when you want just to be done with him. Still, there are other times when you realize just how valuable the designated player is to the success of the Colorado Rapids attack. Week 2, especially against FC Dallas, was the latter
While there were still moments of frustration, Rafael Navarro did not bag a brace in Week 2 without Kevin Cabral. Whether in a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2, Cabral opened the pitch for his fellow forward. Kevin possesses speed that cannot be ignored. So, while you want to stay compact with Navarro, you cannot let Cabral roam either.
While Kevin Cabral often leaves much to be desired on the finishing front, it leaves the opposition in a bind. Do you have the mindset of fully gravitating to one of the most proven finishers with Rapids in Rafael Navarro? Or do you try to account for Navarro and Cabral? In the few moments of indecision, Cabral creates space for Navarro, Mihailovic, and Larraz to make other teams pay.
I think Kevin Cabral will score the goals. The more Navarro scores, the better the opportunity for Cabral to score. It’s a natural consequence that if Rafael Navarro continues to find the back of the net, Kevin Cabral will have great looks at the goal himself. If he continues to play like he did in Week 2, the goals will come sooner rather than later.
Now that they’re out of the CCC, the Rapids play just once in Week 3. On Saturday, Colorado faces Austin FC at Q2 Stadium. Who will be on the rise in Week 3? Stay tuned with Team NBS to find out!
