Colorado Rapids vs D.C. United | Roster Notes | April 13, 2019

Starting XI:

Goalkeeper Tim Howardwas named to the MLS Team of the Week (Week 1) after his performance against the Timbers in the Rapids home opener. Tonight will mark Howard's seventh consecutive start of the 2019 season. In January, the New Jersey native announced that 2019 will be his final season in his storied playing career. Howard has been a mainstay on the US men's national team and spent more than 10 years in England before rejoining MLS with the Rapids in 2016. Since then, the Howard has featured in 81 games, boasting 18 shutouts.

Defender Keegan Rosenberry made his sixth consecutive start with the Rapids last Saturday against Orlando City SC. The Pennsylvania native has played every minute of the 2019 season so far. Rosenberry made 32 regular season appearances with the Union in 2018, 31 from the start, registering one goal and three assists. 

Defender Kofi Opare will make his second start for the Colorado Rapids tonight. He will face his former team, D.C. United where he spent five seasons. Since arriving in MLS, he's scored four goals and added one assist in over 6,600 minutes of regular season play.

Defender Tommy Smith will make his third start of the 2019 season. The 28-year-old opened his goal-scoring account in the 69th minute of his 2019 debut at Toyota Stadium on March 23 against FC Dallas. Smith is in his second season with the Rapids after starting in 33 regular season games with the club in 2018, scoring four goals and adding three assists.

Homegrown defender Sam Vines will make his first start of the 2019 season tonight against D.C. United. The 19-year-old made his MLS debut last season during the final away game against the San Jose Earthquakes on October 21.

Midfielder Benny Feilhaber will make his sixth start for the Rapids since signing as a free agent on January 11. Feilhaber was named to the MLS Team of the Week (Week 1) after scoring in the 46th minute to put the Rapids level with the Timbers on March 2. Since his MLS debut in 2011, the US international has scored 38 goals and added 57 assists in over 19,000 minutes of regular season play.  Tonight will mark Feilhaber's 14th appearance against D.C. in his MLS career.

Midfielder Jack Pricewill make his sixth start of the season tonight after going the full 90 last Saturday against Orlando. Price enters his second season with the Rapids after spending his previous seven years with Wolverhampton Wanders FC. 

Homegrown midfielder Cole Bassett was named to the MLS Team of the Week (Week 6) after his performance last Saturday against Orlando City SC which saw the 17-year-old score a goal and record an assist. Tonight he will make his fifth start of the season. The Homegrown is in his second season with the Rapids after featuring in six regular season games with the club in 2018.

Midfielder Kellyn Acostawill make his sixth start of the season tonight after going the full 90 last Saturday against Orlando. The US international started all 12 matches following the trade from his hometown club FC Dallas in 2018, scoring two goals and adding three assists, including a goal against D.C. United in his Rapids debut. Overall, the 23-year-old has 11 goals and 17 assists in his MLS career. 

Forward Diego Rubio will make his fifth start for the Rapids tonight after spending three seasons with Sporting Kansas City. The 25-year-old scored in the 54th minute against his former club on March 17.  Rubio averaged 0.92 goals per 90 minutes in 2018 which put him behind only Atlanta’s Josef Martínez and LA Galaxy’s Zlatan Ibrahimović. The Chilean bagged eight goals and six assists in 2018 in just 781 minutes.

Forward Kei Kamarawill make his seventh consecutive start for the club tonight after spending 2018 with Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The MLS veteran scored his 115th career goal last Saturday against Orlando City SC. The tally sees him surpass Ante Razov and gives Kamara sole possession of the fifth spot on the all-time goals list in MLS history. Kamara has added 44 career assists to his goal total in over 24,000 minutes of regular season play. He's played in every minute of the 2019 campaign.

On the Bench:

Goalkeeper Clint Irwinwill serve as the backup to Tim Howard tonight. Irwin rejoined the Rapids after spending three seasons with Toronto FC. The goalkeeper has appeared in 121 regular season games over his six-year MLS career, recording 33 shutouts.

Defender Axel Sjöberg will start tonight on the bench. Sjöberg enters his fifth season with the Rapids after being selected in the first round (No. 14 overall) of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. The defender was named Man of the Match after his performance against Sporting KC during the March 17 game at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park. Sjöberg was named to the MLS Best XI in 2016 after he anchored a Rapids defense that conceded a league-low 32 goals and set a MLS record for average goals against per home game of 0.41.

Dillon Sernawill start tonight on the bench. This is Serna'sseventh season with the club after signing on January 14, 2013, and he is just three games away from making his 100th regular season appearance for the Rapids.

Defender Deklan Wynnewill start tonight on the bench after going the full 90 last Saturday against Orlando City SC. The 24-year-old enters his second season in Colorado after making 25 regular season appearances with the Rapids in 2018, 22 from the start.

Homegrown defender Sebastian Anderson appears on the gameday roster against D.C. United. The 16-year-old became the youngest player to sign with the club when he inked his Homegrown contract last week. If Anderson appears tonight he will become the youngest Rapids player to make their MLS debut.

Midfielder Nicolás Mezquidawill start tonight on the bench after making six consecutive starts. The 27-year-old opened his 2019 account last Saturday with an equalizer in the 61st minute against Orlando City SC. Since arriving in MLS, he's scored 13 goals and added four assists in over 4,800 minutes of regular season play.

Forward Andre Shinyashikiappears on the gameday roster for the seventh consecutive week after earning his first MLS start against FC Dallas. The 21-year-old scored the dramatic stoppage time equalizer in the 3-3 draw against Portland on March 2, which would eventually be voted MLS Goal of the Week (Week 1). The rookie was selected fifth overall in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft after four productive years at the University of Denver where he scored 51 goals and added 15 assists over 83 appearances at the NCAA level.

Colorado Rapids Injury Report