Sporting KC brought back down to earth in 4-1 collapse against Colorado Rapids
A promising start unraveled by defensive lapses, poor midfield play, and a nightmare showing from John Pulskamp
Sporting Kansas City kicked off against the Colorado Rapids in MLS Week 5 fresh off a great 2-1 win over the LA Galaxy. Expectations were high that the Wizards could win once more, especially with the team claiming wins in their last three matches versus the Rapids. Sporting KC hadn’t won back-to-back league games since July 2024 ahead of Saturday. The hope was that the streak would end. The reality is the streak continues thanks to a 4-1 loss to the Rapids.
Due to an ankle injury to Jayden Reid in training and Zorhan Bassong’s continued absence, head coach Raphael Wicky had to shuffle the defense once more. Jake Davis started at right-back—not his best position. Meanwhile, Jansen Miller and Ethan Bartlow started in central defense. Wyatt Meyer was pushed to left-back, a position he played for Nashville last season in the U.S. Open Cup.
Even with Diego Borges available to play center-back, Wicky went with players who had started the season with the club. Perhaps brave, perhaps mad, or perhaps Borges just wasn’t fit enough. The 6-foot-4 defender was on the bench but didn’t get off it. He had only played five times during his six-month stint in Hungary. Fitness could be an issue at the moment.
Promise in possession, problems in transition
Sporting started the game brightly. Calvin Harris nearly had the team in front but dragged his shot across Zack Steffen just wide. The play was started by Bartlow, who played a tremendous diagonal long ball to Harris. The speedy winger got on the shoulder of Colorado left-back Miguel Navarro and latched onto Bartlow’s pass.
His shot was just wide, but it was a perfect example of what Harris can do. Sporting haven’t gotten Harris the ball enough this season. If defenders can continue to hit those diagonal balls, Sporting can consistently get in behind opposing defenses.
The Wizards continued to apply pressure. Meyer advanced the ball before finding Jacob Bartlett, who then moved it to Harris. Harris sent a cross toward Shapi Suleymanov that was deflected. Five Sporting players were around the Rapids penalty area when Steffen collected and distributed.
Then, in one fluid movement—with Sporting KC completely out of shape—Colorado counter-attacked from absolutely nothing.
Rafael Navarro’s backheel pass started it all. Darren Yapi ran onto it and drove toward goal with Bartlow chasing. Bartlett, who is fucking useless, allowed Aaronson to simply stroll past him. Aaronson must have been wearing silent shoes (if you are a fan of Henry Danger you’ll get the reference), or Bartlett needs his hearing checked, because he had no idea the Rapids midfielder was there. Aaronson’s scuffed shot still found its way past John Pulskamp’s right hand.
The Bartlett problem isn’t going away
Bartlett is supposed to be the fittest Sporting Kansas City player when it comes to fitness tests and training exercises. How the hell does he get outrun by Aaronson, allowing the Colorado Rapids midfielder to score a preventable goal?
I’ve said it since the Coachella Invitational in preseason: Bartlett is not good enough for this level right now.
He doesn’t cut out passing lanes. He presses when he doesn’t need to. And in this case, he didn’t even anticipate a simple pass into space. Wicky, please stop playing Jacob Bartlett.
To Sporting’s credit, they didn’t drop their heads. Dejan Joveljic had a chance minutes later thanks to Manu Garcia’s pressure—because pressure creates opportunities.
Defensive instability and goalkeeping contrast
Davis, meanwhile, is not a strong option at right-back. He started in place of Justin Reynolds, who was returning from a hamstring injury and came on in the second half.
Before that, Colorado nearly doubled their lead in the 19th minute when Davis miscontrolled a ball he wanted to clear, allowing Yapi through. Bartlow recovered brilliantly to clear off the line after Pulskamp’s initial save.
One of the most striking differences in this match was between the two goalkeepers. Steffen looked calm, assured, and completely in control despite having a young defense in front of him.
Pulskamp? Not even close. Although he has performed admirably at times this season, he’s not on Steffen’s level. And it showed.
Shapi delivers, then Pulskamp undoes it
Despite defensive issues, Sporting found an equalizer just before halftime. Bartlow’s header fell to Lasse Berg Johnsen, who quickly played forward to Harris. Harris drifted inside and played a pass into the box for Shapi to run onto and finish with a first-time shot at the near post.
It was everything Sporting do well in one move: quick, direct, and decisive.
Again, Shapi has been brilliant. While I continue to bag on Bartlett, I’ll give credit where it’s due. Shapi is exceeding expectations. He’s been genuinely good this season, and performances deserve recognition. I bagged on Shapi in preseason, but he has played good throughout the season. I’ve been pleasantly surprised.
By the way, while I continue to hate on things this week, the Apple TV commentators were incredibly annoying. The color commentator’s fake excitement for every goal was exhausting.
Then came the turning point. Just before halftime, Pulskamp produced a world-class howler. Watch the replay—he looked like a dog shitting razorblades before the corner was even taken. Nervous to say the least.
Sporting wanted a foul, but the truth is simple. Pulskamp failed to catch the ball, it hit the crossbar, and Wayne Frederick tapped it in. No foul. Just weak goalkeeping. That moment changed everything.
Second-half collapse
If a defense doesn’t trust its goalkeeper, confidence disappears. While Steffen looked like a stallion, Pulskamp looked like a pony.
Even at 2-1, Sporting had chances. Steffen denied Shapi’s free kick, and Johnsen wasted a golden opportunity from another well-worked set piece. It was Shapi’s pass that set up the Norwegian.
Then, in the 71st minute, Rafael Navarro struck again. Miguel Navarro delivered a perfect cross, and Rafael Navarro slid in to score. It was his third goal in five games against Sporting KC. He clearly enjoys playing against the Wizards.
Three minutes later, the Rapids made it four. Sporting lost possession, Rafael Navarro squared the ball, and Aaronson finished clinically. Davis couldn’t keep up, Miller played Navarro onside, and no midfielder tracked the run. Defensive disorganization once again.
Numbers don’t lie and they’re ugly
Had it not been for Pulskamp, the scoreline could have been even worse. Sporting’s defensive issues haven’t improved from last season.
Yes, there are new players. Yes, injuries have played a role. But this was a massive step backward after the previous week’s win.
The numbers are brutal. Sporting posted an xG of just 0.74. They managed only three shots on target from eight attempts. Colorado, meanwhile, had 17 shots with nine on target.
Colorado came into the match with six points from four games—middle-of-the-pack in MLS. Sporting made them look like Supporters’ Shield contenders.
Sporting KC had the MLS’s worst defense last season with 70 goals allowed. This season, they’ve conceded 11 in five games. After Saturday’s games, only Orlando City have conceded more goals (17).
A quality problem
Shapi and Harris were Sporting’s best attacking players, but they barely saw the ball, combining for just 56 touches. Despite that, they still created the team’s only goal.
Joveljic had one shot from 27 touches. If the ball doesn’t reach the wings, it won’t reach the striker. It’s that simple. This isn’t a system issue. It’s not on the head coach.
It’s a quality problem. Shapi and Harris look like legitimate difference-makers. Johnsen and Garcia are workhorses. Bartlow is a solid MLS veteran.
But Bartlett, Davis, and Miller? I question all three. Yes, injuries have impacted the lineup. But two of those players have started all five games this season, and their performances simply haven’t justified their inclusion.
Bartlett played 30 MLS games last season and has started every match this year. That doesn’t mean he’s good enough. He finished with just 28 touches, one tackle, and one interception against Colorado. That’s not acceptable for a defensive midfielder.
If anything, it reinforces the point: being an academy product shouldn’t guarantee minutes. Yet, time and time again, MLS clubs promote academy players who aren’t good enough or ready.
Right now, Sporting KC looks like a team with a few bright spots buried under a pile of very real problems. The high of the win over the Galaxy was undone with the loss to the Rapids. Losses happen, but this was a collapse.