The Rapids are set for an inter-conference clash with Charlotte FC, and on the call for the match will be announcer Josh Eastern. The play-by-play man has made his way through the American Soccer ranks over his young broadcasting career, having called USL League One, USL Championship, MLS NEXT Pro, and NWSL matches. Eastern will be paired up with Devon Kerr on the English broadcast for Apple TV and MLS Season Pass this weekend.
Five games into the MLS season, what are your thoughts on the strength of the Western Conference and where do the Rapids fall in that mix?
If I had to choose a conference that was more surprising through five weeks, it would definitely be the West. Seeing Vancouver and Austin at the top is a surprise to many and then you see the likes of the Galaxy and Sounders towards the bottom, which not many had penciled in. I may have been more bullish on the Rapids than others, but I thought they would be right in the middle of the playoff picture in the West. In year two under Chris Armas, I expect them to make some noise. The surprise for me comes with just one point at home so far. The Rapids have a major home field advantage with the altitude. Yes, it's still early, but if they are earning results away from home and then they get things rolling at home, watch out.
Charlotte added a big name this offseason in Wilfried Zaha. What kind of challenge does he pose, and do you think the Colorado back line is up for that challenge?
Charlotte has shown they can score in a lot of different ways. Through five matches, they have eight different goal scorers (plus an own goal), and are top five in xG in MLS. Zaha brings name recognition and top-end talent to the attack. However, it doesn't stop there. Patrick Agyemang just scored for the USMNT and is in great form at the moment. Pep Biel had a goal and two assists against San Jose. Charlotte had four different goal scorers last week, all from different areas of the pitch. For a team in Colorado who just gave up three goals against Portland, they'll have another tall task this weekend with an in-form Charlotte side coming in.
The Rapids have been one of the youngest teams in MLS over the past few seasons. In your opinion, what are the advantages of that, especially in a growing league like MLS?
The saying goes: if you're good enough, you're old enough. Youth is the name of the game in MLS these days. With the introduction of the U22 initiative signings, it is a very practical way to build a roster without going out and signing big money, big name stars. For a team that wants to play with high intensity under Chris Armas, it's been a smart way to construct this team. Just look at the midfield against Portland with three players aged 23. Then it's a front line of players all 26 or younger who have already earned experience in their young careers outside of MLS. There is a nice blend of young guys, while still having the likes of Keegan Rosenberry and Andreas Maxsø on the backline who have a wealth of experience. I like how this team is constructed, and it showed last year with the team going from bottom the Western Conference in 2023 into the playoffs.
Are there any key Rapids players that you believe will have added impact against Charlotte?
This is a tough one because Charlotte has been one of the most balanced teams through five weeks of the season. 10 goals scored and only four conceded. I'd love to see this Rapids attack really start to click. Half of their goals in MLS play have been scored in one game against Dallas. With the rate Charlotte has been scoring, the Rapids will need to find some scoring chances of their own. Colorado has an xG of 5.3, good for 22nd in MLS this season. That's a long-winded way of saying that I'm looking to someone like Djordje Mihailovic to help spearhead the attack this weekend. His influence goes without saying in this team and with just one goal contribution in 2025 so far, this weekend would be a great way for him to kickstart his MLS regular season.
How do you see Saturday’s match playing out?
This is just the third matchup in this series' history and the first since 2023. It's just Charlotte's second trip to Colorado with neither team beating the other with two draws in two games. Everyone should be back from international duty and Colorado will be looking to bounce back from a lopsided home loss. Charlotte is going to be playing with tons of confidence, as they should, coming off a 4-1 win over San Jose. I give Charlotte the slight upper hand based on how their attack has been flowing so far this season. The Rapids will have to be sound defensively because Charlotte has scored multiple goals in four of their five games this season. I expect this will be a good test for both teams and a tightly contested battle Saturday in Colorado.
