The Colorado Rapids on Wednesday night lost their eighth consecutive match, crashing out of the U.S. Open Cup with a 2-0 loss to Nashville SC of the United Soccer League at Vanderbilt Stadium.

Nashville, a second-division side, benefited from an own goal by the Rapids’ Micheal Azira six minutes before the intermission and doubled their lead in the 78th minute on a headed goal by Ropapa Mensah that beat Rapids ‘keeper Zac MacMath.

“Disappointed,” Rapids first-year manager Anthony Hudson said after the match. “We’re on a difficult run and I think there’s a lack of confidence with certain players.”

Hudson said the lack of confidence has led the Rapids to become too safe in possession, and not as brave and positive.

“But, the players give everything and I don’t think there’s ever been a sign of that,” Hudson said. “They kept trying, they kept running, they kept doing it, they’ve done it every game. Just a little lack of confidence and it’s one that we have to work through.”

Colorado dominated possession, with 58.3 percent of the ball, but could not unlock the organized Nashville defense, and the the narrower field at Vanderbilt Stadium played to Nashville’s advantage.

“It wasn’t good enough,” Azira said. “We could have created more chances. We just didn’t create enough to score goals. That’s the difference, that’s what they did: they scored. That helped them to win the game, but we just didn’t create enough.”

The Rapids failed to get a single shot on target, and Nashville goalkeeper Matt Pickens, who was in net for Colorado in their run to the 2010 MLS Cup, kept the clean sheet.

“I was very comfortable back there,” Pickens said. “The guys put in a work like performance tonight and it was probably the easiest game of the year for me and I was just trying to keep guys tuned in and ready for anything. They had a lot of possession, more so than us, but we dealt with it well and we knew we had to just sit back a little bit and counter when we could to make the game difficult for them.”

For Nashville, the victory was a signature win for the expansion USL side. It was their ninth consecutive game unbeaten and their first-ever victory over an MLS side.

“I think it unfolded in pretty much the way I thought it was going to. I was a tad surprised at the caliber of players Anthony put on the field,” Nashville manager Gary Smith said. “They went very strong which I think shows us a tremendous amount of respect. I was in many ways pleased that he didn’t put out an alternate team. They settled into the game pretty well I felt. They showed some nice possession, he’s got some really technically gifted players and I thought they showed their caliber.” Related Articles 19-year-old Cole Bassett, Jonathan Lewis help Rapids beat Earthquakes 5-0

Colorado Rapids announce final nine games on 2020 schedule

Rising Rapids midfielder Cole Bassett taking next step in promising career

Bassett, Lewis goals lift Colorado Rapids past LA Galaxy 2-0

Colorado Rapids will be allowed to host fans at upcoming matches at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park

The victory was extra sweet for Smith, who in 2010 led Colorado to its only MLS Cup title, but was let go two seasons later.

“I’ve said to numerous people, it’s been a long time, there’s a lot of water under the bridge since I left there,” Smith said. “I know Anthony very well, he’s a lovely guy. They’ve still got Conor Casey on the staff, Chris Sharpe’s their goalkeeping coach. They’re all wonderful people, and I’m delighted to win. There’s an added little bit of excitement, of course. But, I had a great time there. I have no ax to grind with anyone who’s there at the moment. I had a few axes to grind before, but look now, all those people have left.”

Colorado travels to Houston on Thursday where they will face the Dynamo in a league game on Saturday night. The Rapids will try to snap their seven-game losing streak in league play and eight-game losing streak across all competitions.

“The biggest thing is getting players back,” Hudson said. “I think that’s been our biggest challenge. I hope in the next couple of days we can get one or two of our players back and get them recovered. The players have no time to feel sorry for themselves and this is something that we know these situations define you. No one’s happy about it. We’re frustrated, hurting, but these situations define you. We need to step up and we need to work through it.”