Denver, CO
Rapids’ slide continues after allowing two stoppage-time goals to Austin FC on Decision Day
Doomed from the start. Hell of a response. Then a collapse.
Five minutes into the Colorado Rapids’ Decision Day match against Austin FC, midfielder Djordje Mihailovic went down with a rolled ankle that required a substitute and a stretcher. On the same play, Austin earned and converted a penalty via Sebastian Driussi in the eighth minute after Mihailovic was treated.
Goals in the 42nd and 75th for the Rapids seemed to have secured a quality win in what coach Chris Armas considered a must-win for his team, but two headed goals from Austin in stoppage time flipped the result and subjected the Rapids to the seventh seed in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Here are three takeaways from a 3-2 loss that reawakened the demons of losing to bad teams on the road heading into a playoff matchup with L.A. Galaxy:
The run through
Down their best player and a back-bending early goal, the Rapids did not tuck their tails. While production in the final third teetered between half-decent and nonexistent for most of the first half, effort and swarming around the ball on defense was quite the opposite.
In the 42nd minute, it was rewarded. Defender Lalas Abubakar, for his first assist of the season, won a duel in a position where he looked more like an attacking midfielder, and spilled it to forward Rafael Navarro.
The Brazilian only needed that lone good look to tie the game up heading into the break and end a five-game scoring drought.
In the 75th minute, winger Omir Fernández earned and converted a penalty of his own on a counterattack where he was pushed down just inside the box.
Coach Armas stressed during the week that this match would have to serve as a “run through” for the playoffs, not only for the way his team would play but also how intense the match should be, no matter the fact Austin had already been knocked out of playoff contention.
But the circumstances, the response to adversity and late drama against Austin was exactly what should be expected in any sort of playoff run for these high-flying, all-or-nothing Rapids.
One up, one down
While there is no timetable for a return for Mihailovic, the initial play — and his reaction — did not look promising.
While running toward a 50/50 ball in the fifth minute, the ball was kicked into Mihailovic’s ankle around midfield, which forced it to roll so much his ankle bone nearly touched the turf. Immediately, he went down and raised his hand for assistance, needing a stretcher to get off the field.
He returned to the bench later on with crutches and an ice pack.
In the second half, winger Kévin Cabral made his return from a broken elbow he sustained on July 17 against his former club, LA Galaxy.
He nearly made an instant impact in the 67th minute, just seconds after subbing on for Calvin Harris, by taking his first touch-and-run into the box and forcing a save out of Brad Stuver.
If Mihailovic misses significant time, any help from elsewhere would be welcome, and Cabral provided something to look forward to despite the loss of the Rapids’ best player.
Rapids to play L.A. Galaxy in first round
Not the result you wanted on Decision Day. Certainly not the matchup you want in the first round of the playoffs.
With the loss to Austin and Minnesota United’s lopsided win over St. Louis CITY, the Rapids slipped to seventh place in the Western Conference after occupying third place as recently as a month ago.
The Galaxy, which lost hold of the one-seed to LAFC via a thrilling late loss to Houston, won both matchups against the Rapids this season, one at each venue.
Galaxy star Riqui Puig had his way with the Rapids just two weeks ago at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park with two goals from the same spot and nearly the same play to lead his team to a 3-1 win despite missing incoming German star Marco Reus for that match.
The matchup, a three-game series for the second-straight season, is slated to start as soon as Friday, but an exact date and time have not been determined.
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The Mecca Sports Bar in Denver will be allowed to continue operations after it reached a settlement agreement with the city. According to the Denver Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, the business will be required to pay a $5,000 fine and have employees complete specialized training.
The bar had been under investigation for prostitution since 2024.
According to the Denver Police Department, there were two arrests for prostitution as a result of the investigation into the bar, in addition to a merchant guard license violation for failure to comply.
According to the city’s licensing department, the business will be under a probationary period, where if there are any other violations of law or rules and regulations, it could face harsher penalties, including license suspension or revocation.
Denver police investigators said they conducted three undercover prostitution stings at the bar. In every operation, officers said they were offered sex for money and told about a scheme where the women would overcharge for alcohol and keep the extra cash.
Mecca Sports Bar is located off West Mississippi Avenue and Federal Boulevard near Huston Lake Park and was formerly known as Club Dubai.
Denver, CO
Attorney for Denver Broncos defender Jonathon Cooper plays race card in domestic abuse case
Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper has been in the news for all the wrong reasons this offseason and that continued Tuesday when his attorney claimed race played a role in the domestic abuse case involving the Black player and his White ex-girlfriend.
Both Cooper and Jade Fiegen were arrested two weeks ago when police arrived at the player’s Colorado residence and determined an altercation over the contents of each other’s phones had occurred, according to court records. But on Tuesday, the 23rd Judicial District Attorney in Douglas County dropped the charges against Fiegen.
The prosecutor also decided to continue with charges against Cooper — meaning the player still faces five charges, including second-degree assault-strangulation, which is a felony.
Jonathon Cooper of the Denver Broncos celebrates a sack against Cam Ward of the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, on Sept. 7, 2025. (Tyler Schank/Getty Images)
JONATHON COOPER BREAKS SILENCE AFTER DOMESTIC ABUSE ARREST WITH AN APOLOGY
Cooper is expected to be in court on Wednesday but before that happened, the lawyers for both parties released statements to 9News and Cooper’s attorney cited race as the reason his client is still on the hook.
“White woman admits she was the aggressor,” Harvey Steinberg said in his statement to the TV station. “Admits she grabbed my client’s phone out of his hand. Admits she went through it without his permission. Admits she threw it against the wall, damaging it. She makes allegations against my client which police don’t appear to believe. Charges dismissed against white woman. Prosecution against Black man continues. Justice in America.”
Attorney Ronald Gainor, who represents Fiegen, offered a different perspective and took a vastly different approach.
He didn’t mention race.
“She should never have been charged in the first place and the decision today by the district attorney’s office confirms that,” Gainor said in his statement to 9News. “This decision really goes a long way in vindicating her and we’re very happy with the court’s decision today.”
Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper warms up before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Oct. 5, 2025. (Eric Hartline/Imagn Images)
Cooper’s attorney accusing the prosecution of favoring the woman because she’s White probably isn’t going to earn him points if this goes to trial. It’s borderline unbecoming.
But Cooper’s alleged offseason activity has been that as well.
The woman and Cooper were both arrested two weeks ago when an altercation began at Cooper’s residence over allegations of infidelity. That escalated into a physical struggle involving their cell phones, according to arrest records.
Fiegen accused Cooper of cheating on her despite the pair being in a four-year relationship.
NFL FACING OFFSEASON DOMESTIC ABUSE EPIDEMIC
Then things got weird.
Cooper apologized for the incident on his social media account.
Then, he was arrested a second time in a week and had to appear in court (again) when he violated a protection order. Cooper allegedly sent Fiegen a series of text messages and showed up outside her apartment.
That earned Cooper two more misdemeanor charges.
Denver Broncos star Jonathon Cooper was arrested early Friday morning on suspicion of two counts of domestic violence and one count of criminal mischief in Colorado. (Courtesy of Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)
So now Cooper faces five charges in total:
- Second-degree assault – strangulation
- Third-degree assault – knowingly or recklessly causing injury
- Criminal mischief – $300-$1,000
- Violating a protective order
- Harassment – repeated telephone calls
The Broncos, by the way, opened a mandatory minicamp on Tuesday but Cooper was not present because he was excused.
FORMER NFL FIRST-ROUND PICK DARRON LEE INDICTED ON FIRST-DEGREE MURDER CHARGE IN GIRLFRIEND’S DEATH
“We’ve excused him from this minicamp,” coach Sean Payton told reporters. “He’s taking this time; obviously, he’s got to work on himself. The club is very much in tune to the league office, local authorities here, and we’ve had several meetings.
“Clearly, from an ownership standpoint, head coach, organizationally, there’s a bar we have and an expectation we have that’s very high. We’ll consider all that as we continue to gather information.”
That doesn’t sound like the Broncos are 100 percent certain Cooper will be able to play for them at the start of the 2026 season, or even be on the team.
It’s possible Cooper might be in jail.
It’s possible Cooper might have to serve an NFL-mandated suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
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It’s possible the club simply decides Cooper, who has 27 sacks the past three seasons, isn’t worth the aggravation or distraction.
A troubling offseason can sometimes do that.
FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO
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