Coming into their MLS Next Pro Western Conference Semifinal at PayPal Park against the Colorado Rapids II, The Town FC had to be confident in their chances of advancing to the finals.
Earlier in the evening, the top seed in the Western Division had lost, opening the door for a potential Western Conference Finals home game for the team. However, a couple of self-inflicted mistakes by The Town gave the visiting Rapids II side the margin they needed to escape with a 4-2 victory on Sunday evening.
Colorado Rapids II started the scoring in the 24th minute when Mamadou Billo Diop got on the end of a header for the early lead.
The Town FC then increased the pressure and equalized just before the half when Nonso Adimabua’s shot was deflected by a Rapids II defender and into the net.
In the second half, it looked like the Town were pressing for the lead, but then Town defender Jamar Rickets picked up his second yellow card of the match in the 52nd minute.
With a man advantage, Colorado quickly jumped into the lead thanks to a goal from Alex Harris in the 60th minute.
Despite being down to ten players, The Town continued to press, and in the 73rd minute, Adimabua got onto the end of a pass and tied the game at 2.
And with extra time looming, the Town almost snuck out a victory on the final play of regulation. After a Colorado foul just outside the box, The Town’s Cruz Medina took a free kick that forced a sprawling save from Rapids II keeper Zack Campangalo. The rebound bounced to the Town’s Julian Donnery, but Campangalo also blocked his point-blank shot, and the final whistle blew.
Needing a victor, the playoff game went to extra time. At the start of the extended 30-minute period, another Town FC mistake proved too much to come back from. Medina took down a Rapid II player in the box a minute into extra time. Anderson Rosa stepped up to the spot and gave Colorado a 3-2 lead. Then, in the 114th minute, Colorado’s Antony Rodriguez got on the end of a breakaway for the final 4-2 scoreline.
The loss ended a season for The Town FC that looked promising for possibly claiming the club’s first-ever trophy—instead, it’s now about taking the lessons learned towards next season.
