The Colorado Rapids (7-6-4, 25 points) will look for a third straight win when they visit the Houston Dynamo (4-9-9, 21 points) on Sunday, Nov. 8. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. MT at BBVA Stadium.
The Rapids clinched a berth in the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs with their 1-0 win over the Portland Timbers on Wednesday. It is Colorado’s first trip to the playoffs since 2016, when the Rapids defeated the LA Galaxy to advance to the Western Conference Final.
"It’s a game that we look forward to. We’ve played pretty well in the last two games. It’s an opportunity to continue the run of form we’ve had over the last couple of games," Rapids head coach Robin Fraser said. "In spite of where Houston is, we know they’re a talented team and a good team and they can be dangerous on any given day.”
Click here to view the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoff schedule. Matchups will be determined after Decision Day matches are played.
Colorado enters the match following wins over defending MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday, Nov. 1, and at Portland on Nov. 4. Forward Andre Shinyashiki, defender Keegan Rosenberry and Homegrown midfielder Cole Bassett scored in the 3-1 win over Seattle, while midfielder Kellyn Acosta scored the lone goal in Portland as the Rapids kept a clean sheet to secure a playoff spot.
The Rapids and Dynamo played to a 1-1 draw on Sept. 9, when Homegrown defender Sam Vines earned his first career MLS assist on defender Lalas Abubakar’s stoppage-time equalizer. Since then, Colorado has won five of eight games, including four clean sheets, three wins over Western Conference playoff teams and the Rocky Mountain Cup title. A win against Houston would build the Rapids’ first three-game winning streak since Robin Fraser’s first three games as head coach in 2019.
Bassett, of Littleton, Colo., and forward Jonathan Lewis lead Colorado with five goals apiece, while captain Jack Price leads the team with five assists. Vines, a Colorado Springs native, has played every minute for the Rapids this season, notching a goal and three assists.
Houston enters the match already eliminated from playoff contention. The Dynamo have lost two straight and are winless in their last six. Forward Darwin Quintero leads the team with seven goals and 10 assists, while Memo Rodriguez has five goals and three assists.
Fans can tune into Sunday’s match on Altitude Sports and Altitude Sports Radio 950 AM.
Notes
- Colorado will look to build its first three-game winning streak of the season and the second in 24 games under head coach Robin Fraser. Colorado is 12-8-4 (W-L-D) since appointing Fraser as head coach on Aug. 25, 2019.
- This is Colorado’s 14th time qualifying for the MLS Cup Playoffs and the first time since 2016, when the Rapids defeated the LA Galaxy en route to the Western Conference Final.
- Colorado and Houston played to a 1-1 draw on Sept. 9 at BBVA Stadium. Defender Sam Vines earned his first career MLS assist on Lalas Abubakar’s stoppage-time equalizer.
- Since their Sept. 9 against Houston, the Rapids are 5-3-0 in their last eight games, including four clean sheets, three wins over Western Conference playoff teams and a Rocky Mountain Cup title.
- Three Rapids – Sam Vines, Danny Wilson and Kellyn Acosta – were named to the MLS Team of the Week for the second week in a row.
- 21-year-old Homegrown defender Sam Vines has played every minute for the Rapids this season, notching one goal and three assists, the first of his MLS career.
- 19-year-old Homegrown midfielder Cole Bassett has five goals and four assists in 2020, including four goals and two assists in his last eight games, all of them starts.
- Forward Diego Rubio has two assists in his last three games, including on Kellyn Acosta’s playoff-clinching goal against Portland, when he regained possession in midfield and combined with Younes Namli to find Acosta for the goal.
- READ: Op-ed: A promise from the Colorado Rapids front office
- READ: Three Points: With wins over Seattle and Portland, Rapids prove they belong in MLS playoffs
- READ: Colorado Rapids clinch playoff berth behind Kellyn Acosta’s goal, look to continue building before postseason starts
