Starting XI
Striker
Dominique Badji
, who has scored four goals in four games three of which came from a
hat-trick against Philadelphia
on March 21st, enters his fourth season after being drafted by the Rapids in 2015. He led the club in goals (9) during the 2017 campaign. Badji has 21 goals in 5,276 minutes of play for the Rapids - firing 131 shots over that time.
Midfielder
Johan Blomberg
is making his fifth consecutive Major League Soccer start after his signing with the Rapids on November 21 from AIK Fotboll of Sweden's top-flight. The Lund, Sweden, native scored nine times in 78 appearances for AIK. Blomberg is coming into this game with two assists, three shots and 328 minutes.
Wingback
Edgar Castillo
, who will make his fifth consecutive start for the Rapids, enters his first season with the club after being acquired on January 9, 2018 via a one-year loan from Liga MX side C.F. Monterrey. Castillo is one of only two players to have featured on the international stage for both the United States and Mexico. Castillo has played every minute this season.
Wingback
Kip Colvey
is making his second consecutive appearance this season since being picked third overall in the 2017 MLS Waiver Draft on December 13, 2017. Colvey featured in four of six 2018 World Cup qualification matches for New Zealand against Fiji, Solomon Islands and Peru in 2017.
Goalkeeper
Tim Howard
, who is coming into this game with four consecutive starts, 360 minutes and 15 saves, enters his third season in the burgundy and blue on the heels of a 2017 campaign that saw the United States Men's National Team legend feature in 25 matches - all from the start. Howard was the 2017 Rapids Player of the Year.
Midfielder
Enzo Martinez
is back in the starting lineup this week after appearing on the bench against FC Dallas last weekend. A two-time USL MVP finalist and member of the 2012 Generation Adidas class, Martinez comes into this game with three starts, 270 minutes and six shots.
Striker
Jack McBean
appears in the starting lineup once again this season after being an unused substitute last weekend against FC Dallas. He enters his eighth MLS season, his first with the Rapids, after being acquired from LA Galaxy on December 14, 2017. He featured in 18 games and scored two goals during the 2017 campaign with LA .
Midfielder
Jack Price,
who will be making his fourth consecutive start at the center of the field for the Rapids, joined the club from Wolverhampton Wanderers using Targeted Allocation Money on January 9, 2018. Price appeared 97 times for Wolves and has been impressive for the Rapids at the centerfield position.
Defender
Axel Sjöberg
is making his first start for the Rapids in 2018 and is entering his fourth season with the club after being selected 13th overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. Sjöberg has made 64 appearances for the club, scoring three goals.
Defender
Tommy Smith
makes his fourth Major League Soccer start on Saturday since joining the club from Ipswich Town of the English Championship on January 22, 2018. The New Zealand international featured for his country at the 2010 World Cup and last summer's Confederations Cup in Russia.
Defender
Deklan Wynne
, who is coming off being named to the MLS Team of the Week in Week 5, will make his fourth consecutive Major League Soccer start on Saturday after joining the Rapids from Vancouver Whitecaps on December 21, 2017. A versatile defender, Wynne played internationally with New Zealand under Rapids' head coach Anthony Hudson and started in all four matches of his country's trip to the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
On the Bench:
Midfielder
Micheal Azira
, who came on as a substitute against FC Dallas, enters his third season with the club, and his fifth in Major League Soccer. In 2017, he finished with a career high in minutes for a single season (2,569). The Ugandan international featured in two of three matches for his country at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.
Midfielder
Nana Boateng
, who made his first start of the season against FC Dallas, enters his second season with the club after signing from Manchester City of the English Premier League. Nana featured in 18 games last season and recently returned to squad from Ghana where he was getting his green card paperwork processed.
Striker
Yannick Boli
appears in the Rapids' 18 for the first time since his arrival from China last month. The Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France native enters his first season with the Rapids after accumulating 16 goals in 24 games and winning the China League One with his former club Dàlián Yīfāng. Boli is eligible to play internationally for both France and Ivory Coast.
Midfielder
Shkëlzen Gashi
is back in the Rapids 18 after missing every game up to this point with a calf injury. The Zürich, Switzerland native notched 17 appearances, two goals and one assist in 2017.
Midfielder
Sam Hamilton
appears on the bench for back-to-back games this season. The Denver native joined the Rapids on March 4, 2017 as the 15th overall draft pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft.
Goalkeeper
Zac MacMath
enters his eighth in Major League Soccer, fourth in Colorado. In 2017, MacMath featured in nine MLS games. Over the course of his career, MacMath has managed an impressive 36 shutouts in 132 games played - eight of those coming while in the burgundy and blue.
Midfielder
Dillon Serna
, a Homegrown from Brighton, Colorado, enters his sixth season with the club. He came on as a substitute in the 80th minute against FC Dallas. Serna has made 73 appearances for the club, scoring eight goals in 3,581 minutes.
Injury Report:
- Ford (Sprained MCL, 8-10 weeks)
- Hairston (Knee 2-3 weeks)
- Mason (Leg, day-to-day)
- Miller (Calf strain, day-to-day)
- Wilson (Ankle, day-to-day)
