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Rapids’ slide continues after allowing two stoppage-time goals to Austin FC on Decision Day

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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:

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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Denver, CO

Denver Broncos, first-round pick Jahdae Barron agree to rookie contract

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Denver Broncos, first-round pick Jahdae Barron agree to rookie contract


DENVER — The Denver Broncos’ rookies report to training camp on Wednesday, and first-round draft pick Jahdae Barron will be there.

Denver7 Sports has confirmed the reports that Barron agreed to terms on his rookie contract Tuesday night. It’s a 4-year deal worth about $18 million, with a signing bonus of $9.8 million.

Denver Broncos

Broncos select Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron with pick No. 20 in NFL Draft

Barron is projected to be the Broncos’ starting slot cornerback on a defense that’s projected to be number one in the NFL.

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That leaves one Broncos draft pick left unsigned: second-round pick RJ Harvey.

The running back is one of 30 second-round picks across the NFL still unsigned. The holdout comes after the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans gave their second-round picks fully guaranteed contracts.

We’ll see how quickly this gets resolved and when Harvey gets into training camp.

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Keeler: Broncos stadium with retractable roof? Broncos Country thinks its coming, whether they like it or not

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Keeler: Broncos stadium with retractable roof? Broncos Country thinks its coming, whether they like it or not


Burnham Yard or Lone Tree? Frankly, my dear, Tom Jacobsen doesn’t give a dome.

“What makes football so unique is the fact that they will play in anything,” the Broncos lifer told me. Jacobsen, 54, has had season tickets in the family since 1965 and has been attending games at Mile High and its successor, Empower Field, since 1976.

“So when you strip that away, and so many more places are stripping that away, you lose what makes it cool, to me.”

The Broncos’ lease at Empower Field is up after the 2030 season. A stadium usually takes four-ish years to build. Entities with ties to the Broncos have been buying up land around Burnham Yard in Lincoln Park since last August. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston told The Post on July 9 that he’ll have “more to say in the week to come” on the franchise’s alleged Burnham Yard interest.

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Officially, the team’s played it coy. But it doesn’t take a whole lot of yarn to connect the push pins on your evidence board.

“I’m 1,000% no dome,” Jacobsen laughed. “No. Dome.”

Tom’s a member in good standing in the Broncos Quarterback Club, the team’s official booster club since 1964. Even those in the club have been divided for years when it comes to the notion of seeing their favorite team playing under a roof. Even a retractable one.

What’s different now, Jacobsen says? His side — “no dome” — is now in the minority, at least among Quarterback Club membership.

“My personal feeling is that I’m going to be on the losing side of this argument,” he said. “I think the money aspect to everything else that comes with a dome is going to (win out).

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“I’m sure there’ll be a point where I’m sitting at the game with my wife, where I’ll look at her and say, ‘You know what? This is nice, not wearing 10 layers of clothes.’ I know there’s the romantic side of me, from a football tradition standpoint, (that would hate it).”



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90s across the Denver metro area for the next two days

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90s across the Denver metro area for the next two days


DENVER – It will be a toasty start to the week. It’s nice and mild this morning, but temperatures will quickly climb into the upper 80s by lunch and then mid-90s by 3 p.m. These afternoon highs are a few degrees above normal for mid-July.

Temperatures are going to stay hot for the first couple days of the week, with more mid- to upper 90s on Tuesday. If you’re spending time outside, just be sure to take breaks, drink plenty of water, and find some shade when you can.

We’ll see mostly sunny skies early on, with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Even if it doesn’t rain in your area, storms could send out strong gusty winds-those sudden blasts that kick up dust and knock over lawn chairs. The risk of severe weather is low today, but we could see some stronger storms on Tuesday over the northeastern plains.

Wednesday brings some changes. A cold front is expected to move through, which will cool things off a bit and increase our chances for more widespread rain. Storms could be more active across both the mountains and plains, so plan on a higher chance of getting wet that day.

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By Friday, the heat will start to creep back in, with temperatures climbing back into the 90s and the usual pattern of afternoon storms returning. It won’t be a total washout any day, but keep your umbrella or rain jacket nearby just in case something drifts over your area in the afternoon or evening.

DENVER WEATHER LINKS: Hourly forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream.





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