Colorado Rapids vs LA Galaxy | Roster Notes | September 11, 2019

Starting XI:

Goalkeeper Clint Irwin will make his seventh start of the season tonight when the Rapids take on the LA Galaxy. He has eight appearances and 31 saves in 2019. Irwin made his return to Colorado after being acquired from Toronto FC on December 14, 2018. Overall, Irwin has appeared in 129 regular season games over his MLS career, recording 34 shutouts.

Defender Keegan Rosenberrywill make his 30th consecutive start of the season tonight after being named to the MLS Team of the Week for his efforts against Seattle. The 25-year-old is the only player that has played every minute of the 2019 MLS regular season for the Rapids. Prior to joining the club, Rosenberry spent three seasons with the Philadelphia Union, where he scored three goals and served up six assists over 81 appearances.

Danny Wilson will make his 14th start of the season tonight against the Galaxy. Wilson opened his MLS account on May 11, 2019 against rival Real Salt Lake. This is Wilson’s second season with the club, he featured in 23 matches in the 2018 season.

Tommy Smithwill make his 23rd start of the season tonight. Smith has two goals and one assist to his name in 2019, his second season with the Rapids. Since joining Colorado in 2018, Smith has recorded 55 MLS career appearances, with six goals and four assists to his name.

Defender Lalas Abubakar will make his 45th MLS career start tonight when the Rapids take on the LA Galaxy. The Ghanaian has been a mainstay in the lineup since joining the Rapids on loan from Columbus Crew SC, where he appeared in 31 games since 2017 for the Ohio club.

Midfielder Jack Price will make his 24th appearance of the 2019 season tonight. Price has recorded 12 assists, and one goal for Colorado since being acquired from Wolverhampton on January 9, 2018. This is Price’s second season with the club.

Midfielder Kellyn Acosta will make his 27th appearance of the season tonight. Acosta is currently in his second season with the Rapids after spending his previous six years with FC Dallas. Overall, Acosta has played a total of 2,021 minutes and has recorded two goals and two assists in 2019. The US international joined the Rapids midway through the 2018 season.

Homegrown midfielder
Cole Bassett
will make his 18th appearance of the 2019 season tonight against the LA Galaxy. Bassett returns from a stint with the US U-20s, where he scored a goal in each of his two appearances. Bassett participated in the
2019 MLS Homegrown Game
, where he faced Chivas de Guadalajara’s Under-20 team this week on July 30th. Bassett entered the match in the second half and scored the
game-winning penalty in a shootout
. Since signing his contract in 2018, the 17-year-old has scored two goals and has recorded two assists.

Midfielder Nicolás Mezquida will make his 11th start of 2019. Since joining the Rapids this past offseason, the 27-year-old has scored three goals and added four assists, including two game-winning goals. Mezquida has a total of 128 MLS appearances, 60 MLS starts, 15 goals, and nine assists in 5,667 minutes. 

Midfielder Sam Nicholson will make his 15th start of the 2019 season tonight. Nicholson has scored one goal and has recorded three assists in 2019. Nicholson is in his second year with the Rapids, he joined the club from Minnesota United FC on May 1, 2018.

Andre Shinyashiki earns his 15th start of the 2019 season tonight against the LA Galaxy after scoring a brace last week against Seattle Sounders FC. Shinyashiki ‘s performance last week landed him on the MLS Team of the Week for week 27, in addition, Shinyashiki was also voted MLS player of the week. The 22-year-old 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.

On the Bench:

Goalkeeper Andre Rawls serves as the backup to Clint Irwin tonight. The 27-year-old has been on loan with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, where he has recorded 37 saves in 13 appearances, and has kept five clean sheets. Rawls was selected third in the 2018 Re-Entry Draft on December 14, 2018 by the Rapids. Prior to joining Colorado, Rawls spent three seasons with New York City FC.

Defender Axel Sjöberg is listed on the gameday roster. Sjöberg is in his fifth season with the Rapids after being selected in the first round (No. 14 overall) of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. Sjöberg has recorded six appearances, five starts, and 432 minutes for the Rapids this season. Sjöberg was named to the MLS Best XI in 2016 after he anchored a defense that conceded a league-low 32 goals and set an MLS record for average goals against per home game of 0.41.

Homegrown defender
Sebastian Anderson
is listed on the gameday roster against the Galaxy. Anderson returns from a stint with the US U-17s, where he earned two starts. The 16-year-old has made six appearances for the Rapids this season. Anderson became the youngest Rapids player to make his MLS debut at 16 years and 262 days old against Atlanta United FC on April 27. He also became the youngest player to sign with the club when he
inked his Homegrown contract
on April 3.

Homegrown midfielder Dillon Serna will feature on the gameday roster. Serna has made 13 appearances, six starts, and has recorded one assist in 2019. This is Serna's seventh season with the club after signing on January 14, 2013. The 25-year-old has scored nine goals during his career. Serna became the first Homegrown to reach 100 regular season appearances for the club on April 27 against Atlanta United FC.

Homegrown Matt Hundley features on the gameday roster tonight against the Galaxy. Hundley has spent the 2019 season on loan with the Rapids USL affiliate Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, where he's made 24 appearances, 14 starts, and has totaled 1,317 minutes. Hundley was signed to a four-year Homegrown contract on January 15, 2019.

Niki Jackson features on the gameday roster tonight. This is Jackson’s second season with the Rapids after signing on February 20, 2018. Jackson has spent the majority of the 2019 season on loan with Charlotte Independence of USL, where he has scored four goals in 18 games.

Homegrown Sam Raben features on the gameday roster tonight. Raben has spent the 2019 season on loan with Colorado Springs, where he's made seven appearances, three starts, and has totaled 342 minutes. Raben signed to a one-year Homegrown contract on January 15, 2019.

Colorado Rapids Injury Report