The Rapids have battled through tough competition against three strong Liga MX teams during the Leagues Cup, yet they’ve managed to emerge victorious in each match.
Facing teams like Club León, FC Juárez, and Deportivo Toluca has been challenging, but nothing compares to the test that awaits them against the reigning Liga MX champions, Club América. Securing a spot in the knockout stages and advancing to the quarterfinals required some remarkable efforts from the Rapids, but defeating América on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, will demand even more.
However, the Rapids thrive on these kinds of challenges.
“We focus on being physically and mentally prepared, ready to give everything against our opponents,” said Rapids coach Chris Armas. “We step onto the field knowing we must be at our best, and this match is no different. We’re eager for the challenge. It’s always that mentality for us; we see it as a challenge. So here we go again.”
Both teams enter the quarterfinals after securing dramatic victories. América, trailing 2-1 to St. Louis City late in the game, equalized in the 79th minute, took the lead with a penalty in the 86th minute, and sealed the win with an additional goal in the 90+8th minute.
The Rapids, after conceding an equalizer in the 83rd minute, scored in the final seconds of added time to clinch their quarterfinal spot. Despite Toluca’s overwhelming shot advantage (21 total, six on target), Colorado made the most of their only two shots on target, finding the back of the net and securing the win.
América has mastered what Toluca did well against the Rapids. In their match against St. Louis, América recorded 10 shots on target and scored four goals, demonstrating a higher level of finishing prowess than Toluca, who struggled to capitalize on their opportunities against the Rapids.
Midfielder Cole Bassett notes that the essence of these matches often goes beyond the statistics. Both he and coach Armas have emphasized that, in knockout games against Liga MX teams during a tournament with frequent matches, numbers don’t play as crucial a role in their strategy.
In essence, predicting an opponent’s actions is always uncertain until you’re actually on the field. With limited rest and preparation, the emphasis shifts to recovery and the resolve to persevere.
“We don’t want to solely concentrate on América,” Bassett explained. “We have quality within our own team. While we hope every game isn’t as challenging as the one against Toluca, it’s reassuring to know that we can endure tough situations and still come out on top by seizing our opportunities.”
“The key for us is capitalizing on our chances against these teams,” Bassett said. “Looking back at the St. Louis game, they had several opportunities, so if we can generate similar chances and convert a few more, we’ll be in a strong position.”
With the entire tournament taking place in the U.S. and Canada, the top four Liga MX seeds were given the option to select hub locations where they would play as the home team if they were the higher seed. As the top seed, América chose California as its hub and will host the No. 46 Rapids at LA Galaxy’s stadium.
América’s match against St. Louis last Tuesday was played in front of a sea of yellow, with balloons, streamers, and banners creating a home game atmosphere for the Mexican giants. Saturday’s match, kicking off at 8 p.m., is expected to have a similar ambiance.
“As a player, it’s exciting to challenge yourself against the best in the world, and this team represents the best of Mexico,” Bassett said. “It will be a test for us, especially in an environment where, although it’s not their home ground, they’ll still have strong support from the fans. These are the kinds of knockout games you look forward to: stepping up with a chance to win and aiming for the semifinals.”
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