Pedestrian in transition, too little urgency and too many turnovers. The Colorado Rapids deserved every bit of their 4-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park on Wednesday night. SKC’s third goal summed the game up perfectly. The Rapids finally got out on a good-looking break in the 69th minute, but midfielder Cole Bassett ran out of time and options with his wingers breaking inward into SKC’s trap, leaving him triple-teamed and swiped of the ball. While Bassett expressed clear frustration with the lack of width, SKC swiftly counterattacked and substitute Erik Thommy scored his first of two goals on the night. In fact, the first three SKC goals came in some way off turnovers or mistakes by the Rapids. First was in the 8th minute when Rapids defender Andreas Maxsø whiffed on a clearance and the ball fell straight to Alan Pulido, who took a touch and buried it from 15 yards out. The Rapids escaped the first half down 1-0 while it could have been at least two for SKC. But Pulido got his brace four minutes into the second half when Bassett lost the ball 30 yards from his own goal. Pulido got the ball after a couple of passes, knifed through three Rapids defenders and rifled it to the back post for his second. Thommy replaced Pulido in the 59th minute and ended up with a brace of his own. His second goal was on a long ball to Daniel Sallói, who calmly took it down and laid it off to Thommy for a well-placed shot. For Rapids defender and captain Keegan Rosenberry, his team just didn’t get a lot of things right on a night it could have clinched a playoff spot and knocked SKC out of contention in one fell swoop (with help from other results). But it wasn’t for a lack of effort or desire, the right back said. “I think it’s unfair to say that we didn’t want it just as much. I think sometimes it’s portrayed that way with the way we didn’t quite match the intensity to begin the match,” Rosenberry said. “I wouldn’t say we didn’t want it just as much. “It’s a challenge, it’s a long year with a lot of games and to get it right and to be dialed in every single night — all 11 of us on the pitch — is a real challenge. We were just a little bit off of that and that’s it, that’s really the message in the locker room. We didn’t get it right, that’s OK, forget about it and Saturday is just as important, if not more.” No matter the level of effort, SKC’s domination was reflected in the stat sheet, too. It rattled off 31 shots to Colorado’s six (nine on goal to Colorado’s three) and won an unusually high total of 11 corner kicks on the night to the Rapids’ four. In almost all facets, the Rapids were not good enough. “I think we should give Kansas City credit,” Rapids coach Chris Armas said. “They played with intensity and I think they won all the little battles around the pitch in possession and out of possession. They earned that and I think it’s a reminder for us. It’s probably a wake-up call for all of us of what these games are going to look like. Everyone’s fighting for something.” But if you’re looking for positives for the Rapids, defender Michael Edwards had a memorable moment to cap off a night that was mostly the opposite. On a corner kick in the 75th minute, Edwards had an awkward bounce fall right to his feet. And though his back was facing the goal, he was able to backheel it on target and it trickled in for his first career MLS goal. With Lalas Abubakar out with a concussion, Wednesday night was just Edwards’ second-ever MLS start. Additionally, the Rapids’s newest player, defender Reggie Cannon, made his debut after subbing on for rookie Jackson Travis in the 74th minute. While on the pitch, the Rapids scored their lone goal and gave up Thommy’s second goal. Cannon could maybe have done better to get back into a position to defend Thommy in the final action, but otherwise looked solid and brought a welcomed physical presence in his 15 minutes of play. “We kind of hoped both of those moments (Edwards’ first goal and Cannon’s debut) would come in a different fashion, but Reggie was welcomed with open arms and he’s a character and personality that fits right in with us right away,” Rosenberry said. “I thought he showed his personality a little bit tonight, throwing some shoulders around and making an impact. “You wish Mike’s first goal comes in a different way and a different result, but it’s still the same first career goal that you look back on when you’re done with your career and a really proud moment. We’re happy for him.” The Rapids will return home for Armas’ first game coaching against his former club, Toronto FC. The match will kick off Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.