Rafael Navarro had the chances. He just didn't have the finish.
The Colorado Rapids forward posted 1.52 expected goals across five attempts in his side's 1-0 win over Los Angeles FC on Thursday, yet walked away without a goal to show for it. Two of those efforts were on target. None found the back of the net.
It was the sort of night that can haunt a striker: good movement, smart positioning, clear sights of goal. The math said Navarro should have scored more than once. The scoreboard said otherwise.
His match rating of 6.4 reflected the contradiction, not poor, but underwhelming given the volume of opportunity. Colorado still collected three points, which will soften the blow, but Navarro will know he left production on the pitch.
For LAFC, limiting the damage to one goal conceded might feel like a minor win given how often Navarro was allowed to shoot. For Navarro himself, it's a reminder that xG measures chance quality, not ruthlessness. The numbers suggest he'll get more nights like this. Next time, he'll want a different outcome.