September 1, 2019.

On Saturday night at Red Bull Arena, the NYRB fell to the Colorado Rapids by a score of 2-0. The 11th place Colorado Rapids unexpectedly beat the home side thanks to two goals from former NYCFC winger Jonathan Lewis. It was coach Robin Fraser’s first game at the helm of the Colorado Rapids, and he begins his tenure with Colorado on a positive note.

During the opening minutes of the match, the NYRB seemed closer to finding an opener than the Rapids, but the visitors would be the ones to find the back of the net first. In the 13th minute, the NYRB executed a near-perfect free kick routine that culminated in Bradley Wright-Phillips hitting the post off of a contested header. Rapids defender Danny Wilson cleared the ball from his penalty area, and Jonathan Lewis launched a one-man counter attack against an exposed NYRB back line. Lewis skipped past a couple of defenders on his way to goal, and unleashed a sweet, placed finish past a rushing Luis Robles to give his team the 1-0 lead.

Before the end of the half, the NYRB had clear chances to level the score, but they were unable to capitalize. In the 30th minute, the Red Bulls worked the ball around the Rapids penalty area, and Marc Rzatkowski was able to slip Danny Roger in behind the Colorado back line. Roger tried to tuck his shot into the far, bottom corner of the net, but the ball went just wide of the post.

Two minutes later, Rzatkowski sent in another teasing ball into the Colorado penalty area. This time it was a lofted cross to Tim Parker, who shockingly missed a wide open header from eight yards out.

In the second half, the NYRB continued to push for an equalizer, and in the 57th minute Daniel Royer again came close to finding the back of the net. Royer got at the end of a low cross in front of goal, but Rapids midfielder Sam Vines was able to make a last-ditch tackle to send the ball wide of the post.

At the other end, the Rapids came close to finding the back of the net themselves through a series of counter attacks. In the 75th minute, the Rapids got a three-on-two opportunity following a poor giveaway by the Red Bulls on attack. After carrying the ball for a few yards, Rapids winger Jonathan Lewis played the ball through into the path of Cole Bassett, who only had goalkeeper Luis Robles left to beat. Bassett shot down low, but Robles made a fantastic save with his feet to keep the game at 1-0.

Two minutes later, Robles made another save down low to deny the Rapids, again. Following a series of passes inside the box, Lewis fired towards goal past a scrambling wall of defenders. Robles had to stretch to make the save, but he was able to keep the ball from finding the back of the net.

In yet another well-worked counter by the Rapids, Robles came up huge once more. This time, the ball was laid off to a wide-open Diego Rubio, but Robles showed quick speed and closed down the shot.

In the 86th minute, the Rapids finally found a second goal. Jonathan Lewis received the ball at the top of the box, and after taking a touch, he rifled in a curling shot into the top corner of the net. Robles could only watch the ball sail past him this time, and the Rapids deservedly went up 2-0.

After four minutes of added time, the referee blew the whistle, and the NYRB dropped points for the second game in a row. With this result, the Red Bulls fall to fifth place in the East.

As for the Colorado Rapids, this victory serves as a great start to their new era under coach Robin Fraser.

Pablo Bayona Sapag / Leonel Pillcorema