WASHINGTON -- It took less than half-an-hour into Kellyn Acosta’s competitive debut with the Colorado Rapids for him to stride to the penalty spot for his new team.
The midfielder ultimately struck the post with his effort, almost an hour before he made amends with an 82nd-minute equalizer in a hard-luck 2-1 defeat to D.C. United on Saturday night. But Rapids boss Anthony Hudson believes Acosta’s willingness to take the penalty was a window into what made the 23-year-old such an appealing trade target..
“Kellyn got hold of the ball and he was confident,” Hudson said following the game. “You want someone who’s confident enough to grab the ball, and Kellyn is a quality player. It goes in and it’s a dream debut. The reality is, the way he responded is outstanding.”
At the end of a week that began with his trade to Colorado from boyhood club FC Dallas, Acosta led the Rapids with seven shots, and contributed a finish on his equalizer that was among the best of his career.
It was a night that suggested Acosta could be more of an offensive focal point with his new club than at any point playing alongside Maxi Urruti, Mauro Diaz and Fabian Castillo at Dallas.
However, Acosta insisted there was no extra pressure to establish his imprint on a group that sits second from bottom in the Western Conference, after coming over from the West leaders.
“I’m just trying to bring my attributes that got me to this point,” Acosta said, “and bring them on the field and help out the team as much as I can and contribute. Whether it’s getting on the ball, scoring some goals, supplying assists, working on both sides of the ball. It’s kind of just using my characteristics to do well and add that to the team, and add a dimension to get some wins.”
The promise Acosta showed was a silver lining in what Hudson called a “devastating” result considering the circumstances. After Acosta’s 82nd-minute equalizer, it was a fluky, 90th-minute own goal off substitute Niki Jackson that prevented the Rapids from earning only their sixth point away from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park this season.
After an eight-match losing run earlier in the season, the Rapids are again winless in their last five (0W-3L-2D) and return home for a difficult fixture against a Zlatan-less LA Galaxy on Saturday (9 pm ET | TV & steaming info). Even so, Hudson believes there remains buy-in to his rebuild.
“After the start we’ve had to the season, which we agree was horrible and tough, tough for everyone, not one player has given up the whole time,” he said. “We’ve had a few performances where we’ve played some really, really good stuff. And tonight especially. So for a team at the wrong end of the table, ... to come here and try to play the way we have, I’m encouraged.”
