As it turns out, the late theatrics in Colorado Rapids games are not limited to Leagues Cup matches.

The Rapids (13-9-5, fourth in Western Conference) looked down and out in their return to MLS play. FC Dallas’ super subs sank them, but Rapids forward Rafael Navarro brought them back to the surface. Darren Yapi, a super sub in his own right as of late, chipped in a winner in second-half stoppage time.

Actually, Navarro drew Colorado equal twice. Once to equalize in the 11th minute on a rebound which Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes spilled and gifted Navarro. Then again in the 76th minute when Djordje Mihailovic’s penalty was saved, and Cole Bassett got the rebound and found Navarro for a tap-in.

His first brace since April was good enough to run away from Toyota Stadium with all three points in a 3-2 win. With 13 goals on the year, he’s inching closer to the Rapids franchise record for goals in a single season (16) with seven matches remaining.

Yapi, in the 90+3rd minute, took a nice ball from Mihailovic and tapped it right over Paes to win the game for his third goal in all competitions this year. With the assist, Mihailovic became the second Rapids player in club history to record 10 goals and 10 assists in a season.

Dallas got out of the gates quickly with a goal in the 6th minute. Sam Junqua took a long shot from outside of the box, which Rapids keeper Zack Steffen couldn’t corral. The spill went directly to Logan Farrington, who couldn’t miss from that close.

The second Dallas goal was in the 66th minute, not long after Dallas stars Jesus Ferreira and Petar Musa subbed into the game. Ferreira started a counterattack with a nice ball to Junqua down the left sideline. He set Musa up perfectly to finish a header and take the lead before the Rapids cast their magic in Frisco.

Not long before that goal, Steffen came up with a huge save on a free header by Nkosi Tafari from point blank range. He jumped, extended all of his limbs to make himself as big as possible, and got a leg to it.

With 44 points and seven matches to go, the Rapids are much closer to their first playoff berth since 2021. They’ll have a much-needed two week break before hosting Portland Saturday, Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Originally Published: August 31, 2024 at 8:55 p.m.