When it comes to something, it is never easy.

In the fight for a spot in next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup – and the prize that comes with winning the third-place match in the Leagues Cup – the Union had an advantage as hosts at Subaru Park on Sunday night.

Colorado, however, had the same goal in mind and the Rapids took both with their 3-2 victory after winning the penalty shootout 3-1.

“PKs are part of the game. It’s a weird way to lose a game, but that’s the way it is,” Union coach Jim Curtin said. “I don’t judge the guys on PKs. It’s an unfortunate way to lose, but that’s the way the game is and we have to be better in those situations.”

It’s fitting that the game ended that way, considering the Rapids struck first in this thrilling match. In the 38th minute, the Rapids took full advantage of a counterattack after Union center Jakob Glesnes was forced out of position when a well-timed ball into open space found Colorado’s Calvin Harris – the Rapids striker, not the trance DJ of the same name.

Colorado’s lead would not last long, however, as Union striker Tai Baribo perfectly timed a header off a cross from midfielder Quinn Sullivan in the 41st minute. Three minutes later, Baribo scored, converting a deflected ball to score his seventh goal in Leagues Cup competition.

This puts him ahead of all other Leagues Cup goalscorers, especially Columbus playmaker Diego Rossi, who scored six goals to help the team beat Union in the semifinals and reach the final against Los Angeles FC of the MLS.

But in the shootout, everything went wrong for Union because only defender Jack Elliott managed to get a shot past the outstretched hands of Rapids goalkeeper and Downingtown native Zack Steffen.

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Steffen parried Baribo’s first shot and found Olivier Mbaizo’s shot, which kept the Union alive, hitting the crossbar and securing Colorado a spot as MLS representatives in the Champions Cup next season.

How even was this game? It doesn’t matter given the final score, but when you see how close Union came to winning against Colorado and still losing, you have to ask yourself: would this game have turned out differently if the Leagues Cup had a traditional format with extra time before penalties?

The Union had more shots on goal than the Rapids (16-10), were 6-4 in shots on goal, and had more possession than Colorado (2-1).

The month-long Leagues Cup is now behind us for Union and now the team is heading back to the MLS to turn around a tough year and secure the eighth and final place in the Eastern Conference.

This push begins after a brief hiatus, as the Union hosts Columbus in a game originally scheduled for Saturday and now set for Wednesday at Subaru Park (7:30 p.m., Apple TV, MLS Season Pass).

The Union will then end August on Saturday (7:30 p.m., Apple TV, MLS Season Pass) against I-95 rivals New York Red Bulls.

“If we win three games in this final stretch, we’re suddenly in a much better position,” Curtin said. “We need to make sure we play to our best and finish these last nine games of the season really strong.”

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