Colorado Rapids Shut Out Son Heung-min and Bouanga in 1-0 Win Over LAFC

Youssef Maziz’s free kick forces the decisive own goal; Matt Wells says Colorado rehearsed its defensive response to Son and Bouanga the day before

(Commerce City, CO = Won Jeong) The Colorado Rapids effectively contained second-half substitutes Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga to secure a 1-0 victory over LAFC on Wednesday night.

Colorado defeated LAFC at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park on Aug. 19, protecting the lead created by Jeremy Ebobisse’s own goal in the 22nd minute.

The victory improved the Rapids to 9-10-1 and gave them four wins in five matches since the World Cup break. Colorado has won three consecutive matches, all by shutout, while extending its run to four straight home victories without conceding a goal.

LAFC, meanwhile, fell to 10-7-4 and has gone winless in three consecutive matches for the first time this season.

Colorado opened the match in a 4-4-2 formation, while LAFC deployed a 4-3-3. With Son, Bouanga and Hugo Lloris left out of the starting lineup, LAFC rotated several key players amid a congested schedule.

The Rapids also made changes. Georgi Minoungou and Dante Sealy were left out of the starting lineup, with Paxten Aaronson moving to the right wing and Darren Yapi starting on the left.

Colorado disrupted LAFC’s buildup with aggressive pressing and quick transitions early in the match. Defensive midfielder Hamzat Ojediran stood out with his wide range of movement and ability to protect the space in front of the back line.

LAFC attempted to create chances through right winger Jacob Shaffelburg, who repeatedly challenged Colorado’s defense. However, the Rapids prevented those attacks from developing into clear scoring opportunities inside the penalty area.

Maziz’s Dangerous Free Kick Forces Own Goal

The decisive goal came from a Colorado set piece in the 22nd minute.

After the Rapids won a free kick on the right side of LAFC’s defensive half, newly signed attacking midfielder Youssef Maziz delivered a curling ball into the space between the defensive line and the goalkeeper.

The ball was redirected by Ebobisse, struck the far post and crossed the goal line.

Although the play initially appeared to be a direct goal by Maziz, it was officially recorded as an own goal by Ebobisse. Still, Maziz’s precise delivery created the match-winning moment.

Colorado head coach Matt Wells praised Maziz’s set-piece ability following the match.

“One of the big reasons we brought him here was his set-play quality,” Wells said. “It was another great delivery against their high line. He put it in the right space between the defensive line and the goalkeeper.”

Wells said the Rapids had identified the area as a potential weakness during their preparations.

“As we said over the last few days, they defend quite high around the box,” Wells said. “As long as we got good quality into that area, either we were going to score or they might score an own goal, which is exactly what happened.”

Maziz also created the winning goal in Colorado’s previous match against Sporting Kansas City, providing the corner-kick delivery for Reggie Cannon’s header. He has now played a decisive role from set pieces in two consecutive Rapids victories.

Colorado Fails to Find an Insurance Goal

Colorado continued attacking after taking the lead. Aaronson and Rafael Navarro looked to exploit space within LAFC’s defensive structure, and the Rapids created several opportunities to extend their advantage.

However, Colorado failed to convert its additional chances, including a penalty kick. That left the Rapids protecting a narrow lead through the final stages of the match.

Wells acknowledged that the game could have been more comfortable.

“Obviously, with the penalty miss, we lost a little bit of momentum,” Wells said. “At the start of the second half, we also had a couple of really good situations. We could have made the game a little more comfortable.”

The coach said the Rapids must become more decisive in the final third but praised their ability to protect a lead when the second goal did not arrive.

“If we score the second, maybe then we get a third, and it is certainly much more comfortable at the end,” Wells said. “But if we can’t score the second, it is brilliant that we are showing the ability to keep clean sheets.”

Rapids Adjust Immediately After Son and Bouanga Enter

LAFC introduced Son and Bouanga during the second half in an attempt to change the match. Their arrival increased LAFC’s pace and attacking threat, forcing Colorado to defend deeper.

Wells responded by immediately restructuring the Rapids’ pressing and defensive assignments.

Ojediran, who had previously stepped forward to press, was instructed to remain close to Son and track his movement. Cannon stopped making overlapping runs from right back and concentrated on containing Bouanga.

Speaking to Good Day Sports after the match, Wells said Colorado had prepared for the possibility that both players would start.

“We did a lot of work yesterday assuming they would start the game,” Wells said. “If they didn’t start, that was a nice surprise. But as soon as they came into the game, the lads adjusted. We changed everything. The pressure changed.”

“Hamzat then sat on Sonny, whereas previously he had been jumping up to press,” Wells continued. “Reggie stopped going on overlaps and just stayed with Bouanga, which is exactly how we rehearsed it yesterday.”

Wells said the adjustment was a major reason Colorado preserved the shutout.

“I thought it worked really well,” he said. “It was a big catalyst for us getting the clean sheet.”

Wells worked with Son for more than two years as an assistant coach at Tottenham Hotspur from 2023 to 2025. His familiarity with Son’s movements and attacking tendencies appeared to influence Colorado’s second-half response.

Wells Calls It Ojediran’s Best Rapids Performance

Wells reserved special praise for Ojediran, who played a central role in Colorado’s midfield and later accepted the responsibility of tracking Son.

Ojediran pressed aggressively, protected the back line and contributed around the penalty area. Even after taking a knock, he continued the play and recovered to clear the loose ball.

“I thought it was his best performance for the Rapids,” Wells said. “From a physical perspective, a tactical perspective and a technical perspective, it was his most complete performance. I thought he was excellent.”

Wells also revealed that Son and Lloris asked him about Ojediran after the match.

“Sonny and Hugo Lloris were asking me a lot about him,” Wells said. “They said they thought he was phenomenal. That is big praise from two players of that stature, and I agree. I thought he was excellent and covered every blade of grass.”

Wells explained that Ojediran’s intensity has sometimes declined midway through the second half, leading the coach to replace him around that stage of previous matches.

On Wednesday, however, Wells had no intention of making that change.

“Today, there was absolutely no need to do that,” Wells said. “There was no way he was coming off the pitch.”

Rapids Show Growing Tactical Confidence

Colorado defended in what effectively became a back six late in the match. The two wide players dropped alongside the back four, while Aaronson, Wayne Frederick, Noah Cobb and Navarro battled to control the space in front of them.

Unable to consistently penetrate through the middle, LAFC resorted to sending crosses into the penalty area. Colorado maintained its defensive shape and repeatedly cleared the danger.

Wells said one of his assistants suggested switching to a back five late in the match.

“I said, ‘No, take a look. We’re playing a back six,’” Wells recalled.

The coach identified the team’s growing defensive confidence as one of the primary reasons for its recent improvement.

“If we can combine our football and high pressing with the desire to defend as a proper team around the edge of the box—with every player participating, stars and non-stars—then we’re a hell of a team,” Wells said.

Wells also said Colorado has significantly increased its number of touches and entries into the opposition penalty area since the World Cup break.

Before the break, according to Wells, the Rapids ranked outside the top 20 in MLS in those attacking measurements. That prompted the coaching staff to make substantial tactical changes to the team’s movements in the final third.

“That’s not really going to win us MLS Cup,” Wells said of the previous numbers. “We made a lot of tactical changes in terms of how we operate in the final third. The good news is the spike in how much we are getting into the box.”

Finishing remains an area for improvement, but Wells said he is not overly concerned as long as the Rapids continue producing strong underlying numbers.

“That is the part I am calmest about,” he said. “It will come when it comes. We just have to keep producing these metrics.”

Colorado’s finishing left room for improvement against LAFC, but its set-piece quality, tactical discipline and collective defending proved enough to secure all three points.

Most importantly, the Rapids successfully executed a rehearsed plan after Son and Bouanga entered the match, offering further evidence that their recent improvement is rooted in a developing tactical identity rather than a temporary run of results.