Colorado Rapids vs Minnesota United FC | Roster Notes | June 8, 2019

Starting XI:

Team captain Tim Howard will make his 15th start of the 2019 season tonight. In January, the New Jersey native announced that 2019 will be the final season in his storied career. Howard was 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, Howard has featured in 89 games, boasting 19 shutouts and recording 296 saves. 

Defender Keegan Rosenberry will make his 16th consecutive start of the season tonight. The 25-year-old right fullback is the only player that has played every minute of the 2019 regular season. Before joining the Rapids, Rosenberry spent three seasons with the Philadelphia Union, scoring three goals and dishing out six assists in 81 appearances. 

Defender Lalas Abubakar will make his fifth start in central defense tonight. The Ghanaian has had a positive impact since joining the Rapids on May 8 from Columbus Crew SC, where he appeared in 31 games since 2017 for the Ohio-based club.

Defender Tommy Smith will make his fifth consecutive start tonight and pair with Abubakar to anchor the back line. The 29-year-old has featured in a total of nine games in 2019, scoring two goals and adding an assist. He is in his second season with the Rapids.

Homegrown defender Sam Vines starts at left fullback tonight after subbing on in the 17th minute last weekend against FC Cincinnati. The 19-year-old has featured in eight games so far in the 2019 season. 

Midfielder Jack Price will make his 13th start of the 2019 season tonight. The Englishman is currently in his second season with the Rapids after spending his previous seven years with Wolverhampton Wanders FC. Overall, Price has played a total 1086 minutes and recorded third assist this season. 

Midfielder Kellyn Acostawill make his 15th start tonight. So far in 2019, the 23-year-old has recorded one goal and two assists in 16 appearances. Overall, Acosta has 12 goals and 17 assists in his MLS career. The US international joined the Rapids midway through the 2018 season from his hometown club FC Dallas. 

Midfielder Sam Nicholson will make his sixth start tonight, giving the Rapids pace and an attacking threat on the wing. Nicholson is in his second season with the Rapids after spending his previous two with Minnesota United FC. The winger found the back of the net twice in 19 appearances in 2018.

Forward Andre Shinyashiki will make his fourth start of the season tonight after being named to the MLS Team of the Week (14) for his performance on June 1 against FC Cincinnati, which saw the 21-year-old notch his third goal of the season. Shinyashiki will begin the night on the wing and has featured in 13 games so far in 2019, recording three goals and one assist. Shinyashiki 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.

Homegrown midfielder Cole Bassett will make his ninth start tonight, playing alongside Acosta & Price in the center of the park. Overall, the 17-year-old has scored one goal and recorded two assist. Bassett is in his second season with the Rapids after featuring in six regular season games with the club in 2018.

Forward Kei Kamara will make his 15th appearance for the club tonight after spending 2018 with Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The MLS veteran currently holds the fifth spot on the all-time goals list in MLS with 119. Kamara has added 44 career assists to his goal total in over 24,000 minutes of regular season play.

On the Bench:

Goalkeeper Clint Irwinserves as the backup to Tim Howard tonight. Imade his first start of the 2019 season on May 29 in Philadelphia recording five saves. The occasion marked his 120th MLS regular season start. Irwin rejoined the Rapids this season after spending the previous three with Toronto FC. The goalkeeper has appeared in 122 regular season games over his six-year MLS career, recording 33 shutouts.

Defender Danny Wilson has featured in five games during the 2019 season. He opened his MLS account on May 11 against Real Salt Lake. Wilson is in his second season with the club, featuring in 23 games in 2018.

Homegrown defender Sebastian Anderson features on the gameday roster against Minnesota United FC. 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. Anderson has made three appearances with the Rapids so far this season.

Defender Axel Sjöberg returns to the gameday roster against Minnesota United FC. 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 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.

Midfielder Nicolás Mezquidawill start tonight on the bench after appearing in the 60th minute last weekend against FC Cincinnati and scoring the game-winner in the 73rd minute. The goal was his third this season and second game-winner of the season. Since arriving in MLS in 2014, Mezquida has scored 14 goals and added five assists in just over 5,000 minutes of regular season play.

Homegrown midfielder Dillon Serna will start tonight on the bench. This is Serna's seventh season with the club after signing on January 14, 2013. The 25-year-old has scored nine goals through the course of his career. Serna became the first Homegrown to reach 100 regular season appearances for the club on April 27 against Atlanta United FC. 

Midfielder Johan Blomberg features on the gameday roster against Minnesota United FC. The Swede is currently in his second season with the Rapids after spending his entire professional career in his home country, tallying 28 goals and 39 assists for Ängelholms FF, Halmstads BK, and AIK. 

Colorado Rapids Injury Report: