In a goalmouth melee, goalkeeper Joe Nasco turned and instinctively made to grab the ball. Rather than clutch the ball, just yards from the line, the man making only his second-ever appearance in MLS instead grappled Alan Gordon to the ground.

Referee Baldomero Toledo had no choice, first pointing to the penalty spot, before reaching to his back pocket to produce a red card. And so, having prepared all week for the trip to LA Galaxy, it took 33 seconds for the game-plan to be ripped up and the tin hat to be firmly fixed into place.

A man down and a goal down, less than a minute into what was always going to be a tough encounter, was a crushing blow to a team trying to end their sorry streak of losses. From that stage on, it was pretty much one-way traffic.

More goals would follow … many more goals. Six in total, without reply, making it the worst-ever defeat for the Rapids in 623 total matches. The loss was also a record-breaking seventh in a row, keeping the Rapids stuck on 30 points, the mark they’ve sat on since the 3-0 home win over Chivas USA on July 25.

In the seven games since, they’ve lost their skipper – Drew Moor – to a season-ending injury, his center half replacement in Jared Watts and played on without Shane O’Neill, who has not featured since the 3-3 tie at Philadelphia Union on July 12.

But, are these excuses for the 6-0 hammering at the Galaxy? No.

Can the rout be placed entirely at the door of the fastest-ever sending-off in MLS history? Again, no.

During the seven-match losing streak, the Rapids have gifted some soft goals and – even taking Nasco’s early exit into account – there were a few more presents delivered in California.

I take on board the fact that the Rapids were chasing the game, with one less player, from very early on. I also accept that the already-fragile state of the side will have been further undermined by the set-back. And I acknowledge that the cards were severely stacked against the visitors from that point on, facing a side that had won four in a row, were playing at home and had the space to showcase the full range of their passing repertoire.

But, the ease with which the Galaxy cut their way through the middle of the 10-man Rapids was disturbing. Striker Edson Buddle, who had the Rapids best chances – albeit when the game was already lost – suggested afterwards that the team has to to do a better job in such circumstances.

"It’s a learning experience," he said. "When we’re down a man we still have to find a way to stay in the game and not let up so many goals."

Wave after wave of Galaxy attacks rained down on the Rapids, who were a team under siege. Even when they managed to scramble the ball clear, it frequently fell to the feet of the home team. On the odd occasion that a clearance connected with a burgundy jersey, he was often isolated and outnumbered.

There were similarities with the Seattle match six days earlier, in the sense that little was offered going forward. Against Seattle, the Rapids were able to absorb much Sounders pressure, but they did so with the full quota of players, and were not chasing the game until the 52nd minute.

As with the Seattle game, there was no outlet for the Rapids in LA. They were like a boxer on the ropes, desperately trying to cover up, as the unrelenting gloves of the opponent regularly found a way through the defense and landed big hammer blows.

Thankfully, Mr. Toledo appeared sympathetic to the Rapids state, only adding four minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half (it took four minutes to take the penalty and there were also injuries to Todd Dunivant, Nick LaBrocca, Marcelo Sarvas, Thomas Piermayr and José Mari).

The ref also refused to add on any time at the end of the second half, despite there being goal celebrations and five substitutions (30 seconds ought to be added for each sub). He must have felt, like so many impartial observers, that the Rapids had suffered punishment enough.

The referee played his part in the record-breaking evening, but he cannot be blamed in any way. It was a clear penalty and, being so close to goal, the only card he could produce was the one displayed.

On two occasions this season the Rapids have enjoyed the man advantage (indeed, against Atlanta Silverbacks, they had a two-man advantage), and on both occasions they have been frustrated by the opposition and ended up losing the match.

The Galaxy were ruthless in their pursuit of, not only the victory, but of goals. Six could quite easily have been eight or nine. Bruce Arena’s in-form side were denied by goal-line clearances and the woodwork, preventing an even greater margin of victory and thereby avoiding further agony for the Rapids.

Before thinking of winning any physical contests – the next one being at home to the Portland Timbers on September 13 (TICKETS) – this Rapids side must first overcome their own internal battles. They are a team in a hole, looking for the light and a way out. The concern is that, even if they do emerge from the darkness, the sun may already have set on their 2014 season.