Saturday marks the kickoff of the 2021 MLS regular season for both the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas. The last time these two teams met, Dallas got the best of Colorado with 4-1 victory at Toyota Stadium in September of 2020. That loss ignited the Rapids, who went on a 5-2-0 tear to finish the regular season and earn a spot in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. But, tonight, the slates are clean for both clubs as the 2021 season begins. Follow the play by play below for live updates during the match and for a full recap post game. Here are tonight's starting lineups:
Rapids Starting XI: Keegan Rosenberry, Danny Wilson, Auston Trusty, Andre Shinyashiki, Diego Rubio, Michael Barrios, Jack Price, Younes Namli, William Yarbrough, Kellyn Acosta, Cole Bassett.
Subs: Clint Irwin, Steven Beitashour, Drew Moor, Oliver Larraz, Nicolas Mezquida, Jonathan Lewis, Nicolas Benezet, Darren Yapi
1' - Aaaaaand they're off!
4' - Shinyashiki plays a ball into the penalty spot and finds Bassett, who makes a nice turn and serves Price up at the top of the box. Price strikes first time, and the shot is blocked by a FC Dallas defender.
5' - Dallas has an advantage of players in the box, but Price manages a solid tackle to slow them down. Dallas maintains possession, gets off a shot, and Yarbrough makes an impressive save.
11' - Yarbrough with two qualities saves thus far.
12' - Rosenberry plays a nice ball through the box to Barrios, who's at the top of the 18. He fires a hard strike that is deflected over, a good opportunity for the hungry former FC Dallas forward in his Rapids debut. Price's subsequent corner is handled by Dallas.
15' - The Rapids are making Dallas work for it. Namli sends in a left-footed shot from distance, and it's deflected over by the Dallas 'keeper, Jimmy Maurer. Price's corner is bounced around by the Rapids players in the box, but Maurer scoops it up.
18' - Price gears up for his fourth corner of the contest. His outswinger finds Wilson, who nails a header to the far left corner, and it looks for a second like it's going to go in. Maurer makes quick deflection, and Trusty's rebound goes wide.
25' - Acosta is starting at left back in place of Sam Vines tonight, but he's really making an impact all over the field. Dallas maintains some possession in the midfield, and the second they start to come to the left side, Acosta intercepts, and the Rapids begin to build their attack.
26' - The build up finishes with a shot from Barrios, which is deflected by Maurer and sent just beyond Shinyashiki's reach. The Rapids seem on the verge of a goal.
30' - Acosta gets caught a little far ahead, and his man makes a run down the left flank. His man plays a pass in, and the subsequent shot is easily handled by Yarbrough.
31' - Barrios with a tricky 1-2 with Rubio in the box, and the shot goes just wide right. Another extremely close chance for Barrios.
44' - Rubio, playing in the number nine role, tracks all the way back to midfield and makes a solid tackle to stop the beginnings of a Dallas breakaway in its tracks. Great effort from the forward.
45' + 1' - The whistle blows to mark the end of the first half. A really quality first 45 minutes of the season from the Rapids, with multiple dangerous chances in the half.
HALFTIME - Rapids: 0 | Dallas 0
46' - And we're back. No substitutions for either team at the half.
47' - The Rapids are starting the second half aggressive. Price plays in an outswinger corner kick, the club's fifth of the game, and once again finds the head of Wilson. The header goes just wide.
53' - FC Dallas gains possession in their own end and begins their counter attack, but it's cut short by Acosta, who steps in front of his man and intercepts the counter. A really nice, aggressive win for Acosta.
56' - Namli and Price line up for a free kick about 30 yards out from goal. Namli lofts it far post, but the ball is a bit too long, and Dallas gets the goal kick.
62' - SUBSTITUTION - Jonathan Lewis enters the game for Shinyashiki.
63' - Dallas has a little bit of momentum. They get their second chance in a little over a minute, a header that goes just over.
67' - Acosta getting really aggressive on offense, adding some energy in the attacking third. He wins a few battles in the middle of the field to keep offensive possession alive.
71' - Bassett plays a nice ball down the flank leading on Lewis, who takes it the touch line and crosses it in. Dallas kicks it out for a corner. Price's inswinger is played in but cut short by a foul call.
79' - Rubio earns the ball just past midfield and hits Barrios, who is streaking down the right side. He goes 1-on-1 with Maurer, who makes the save.
81' - SUBSTITUTION - Nicolas Benezet replaces Barrios.
84' - Benezet and Lewis appear to have swapped sides, with Lewis now on the right and Benezet on the left.
87' - CARD - Bassett earns a yellow card for a foul at midfield.
90' + 2'- And that's our final whistle. The match ends in a draw.
FULLTIME - Rapids: 0 | Dallas 0
