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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Welcome to the NFL, rookies.
The Denver Broncos are set to hold a rookie minicamp from May 8-10, with players expected to report to the team’s facility today (May 7). One of the key players to watch will be running back Jonah Coleman, the club’s fourth-round pick in last month’s NFL draft.
“Ultimately, to be a Bronco is the best thing in the world,” Coleman told the Big Ten Network during a sideline interview at Washington’s spring game last week.
Coleman figures to begin his pro career as a third-string running back behind J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey, but he could quickly win playing time as a capable blocker and receiver.
Broncos offseason schedule
- Offseason program started: May 4
- Rookie minicamp: May 8-10
- OTAs: June 2-4; June 9-11
- Mandatory minicamp: June 16-18
With rookies reporting to the facility, we should get jersey number news soon. Denver’s draft class, undrafted free agent signings and several expected tryout players will participate in the rookie minicamp this weekend.
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DENVER — Denver leaders say the city is ready to host the 2028 Democratic National Convention.
Local and state leaders came together Wednesday to show off the city, giving the Democratic National Committee its third of five site tours across the country.
Among the finalists are Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Denver.
“In 2028 Democrats will gather at the national convention to reaffirm the core principles of our party and nominate the next President of the United States of America,” Ken Martin, chair for the Democratic National Committee, said.
READ MORE: Denver selected as finalist to host Democratic National Convention in 2028
He said the process of selecting the host city is a “serious and deliberative one.”
The selection will be based on factors including hotel space, transit and airport access, venues, restaurants and bars, and culture, among other things.
Colorado Democratic Party Chair Shad Murib made the case for what Denver brings to the table.
“Denver offers a town square, a place to debate, place to energize and a place to organize around the ideals that have always propelled this country forward with fairness, justice and the pursuit of happiness, and that’s what the West has always provided,” Murib said.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis also joined in the pitch. Johnston acknowledged it has been 18 years since Denver last hosted the DNC in 2008, but said he believes the event could bring in half a billion dollars in economic activity to the city.
► Watch Veronica Acosta’s report in the player below:
Denver leaders pitch city as host for 2028 Democratic National Convention
“It’s four consecutive days of prime-time national television of 50,000 or more people in the city, hosting parties, events, gatherings, and so it’s a huge economic impact for us,” Johnston said.
Hosting the convention comes with a significant cost to the city as well. Johnston said Denver has a plan in place to cover it.
“That is certainly part of the question the convention will have, is each city’s ability to fundraise for the convention,” Johnston said. “We’ve built a very detailed financial plan to lay out our path to raise the resources that we would need to do and we’re prepared to do that.”
Denver Democrats are hoping to recreate the success of the 2008 DNC, nearly two decades later.
“Hosting a national convention, of course, can be a great economic boon for any city with over 35,000 delegates, guests and members of the press in attendance; the Democratic National Convention helps showcase its host city as a world class destination,” Martin said.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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Last chosen, first signed.
New Denver Broncos linebacker Red Murdock agreed to terms on a four-year rookie contract on Tuesday. The news was first reported by 850 KOA’s Benjamin Albright. Murdock’s contract is worth $4.503 million with a $122,000 signing bonus.
Murdock was the 257th and final player selected in the 2026 NFL draft, earning the title of “Mr. Irrelevant.” Murdock (6-1, 232 pounds) was a force to be reckoned with for Buffalo in the MAC during his four-year college career. Murdock set a new FBS record with 17 forced fumbles, breaking the record of former Bulls all-star Khalil Mack.
Murdock is the first of Denver’s seven drafted rookies to sign his first pro contract, ahead of reporting to Broncos rookie minicamp later this week. It is anticipated that the other rookies will follow in short order, making them officially members of the team.
Denver began the offseason program on Monday, with organized team activities scheduled to begin in June. After that, fans will get to sell all the club’s rookies, including Murdock, at training camp later this summer.
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