LAFC vs Colorado Rapids | Roster Notes | October 6, 2019

Starting XI:

Team captain Tim Howard makes his 100th appearance with the Rapids and his last regular season start in his career today against LAFC. In January, the New Jersey native announced that 2019 will be the final season of 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 99 matches, boasting 23 shutouts and recording 328 saves.

Homegrown defender Sam Vines will make his 23rd start of the season today as the Rapids take on LAFC. The 20-year-old defender has played a total 2,059 minutes. Vines participated in the 2019 MLS Homegrown Game, where he faced Chivas de Guadalajara’s Under-20 team on July 30. Vines wore the captain’s armband in the second half of the exhibition match and converted from the penalty spot to help the Homegrown side win the contest in a shootout.

Defender Lalas Abubakar will make his 22nd start with the Rapids today. In 2019, Abubakar has started all 21 matches that he’s appeared in and has played over 1,800 minutes.The Ghanaian has been a mainstay in defense since joining the Rapids on loan from Columbus Crew SC in May. Abubakar appeared in 31 games for the Ohio club.

Tommy Smithwill make the 27th start of the season today. Smith has three goals and one assist to his name in 2019, his second season with the Rapids. Since joining Colorado in 2018, Smith has recorded 59 MLS career appearances, with s goals and four assists to his name.

Defender Keegan Rosenberrywill make his 34th consecutive start of the season today. He scored his first goal with the Rapids on September 15 against Toronto. 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.

Midfielder Jack Price will make his 27th appearance of the 2019 season today against LAFC. Price has recorded 15 assists, and two goals 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 31st start of the 2019 season when the Rapids face off against LAFC. 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 2,545 minutes and has recorded two goals and two assists in 2019. The US international joined the Rapids midway through the 2018 season.

Midfielder Sam Nicholson will make his 18th start of the 2019 season today. Nicholson has scored two goals and has recorded four 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 will make his 31st MLS appearance today as he continues his MLS Rookie of the Year campaign. In 2019, Shinyashiki has notched seven goals, three assists and played a total of 1,612 minutes. 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.

Diego Rubio will make his 26th appearance of the 2019 season today. Rubio has been named to the 26-man roster for Chile in advance of their upcoming friendlies against Colombia (10/12) and Guinea (10/15). The 26-year-old striker has recorded 11 goals and four assists for the Rapids in 2019.

Forward
Kei Kamara
will make his 29th start of the 2019 season today and will lead the Rapids attack when they take on LAFC. Kamara recently returned from international duty with Sierra Leone, where he started both matches against Liberia, and scored in the 55th minute in leg two of their World Cup Qualifiers. In MLS action, the veteran bagged the second hat trick of his playing career when the Rapids defeated the Montreal Impact 6-3 on August 3. Kamara has scored 13 goals in 2019. Kamara is the first-ever MLS player to score 10 goals in a season for five different clubs.

On the Bench:

Goalkeeper Clint Irwin will back up Tim Howard against LAFC. Irwin has recorded 11 appearances and 42 saves in 2019. Irwin made his return to Colorado after being acquired from Toronto FC on December 14, 2018. Overall, Irwin has appeared in 132 regular season games over his MLS career, recording 34 shutouts.

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 seven appearances, five starts, and 435 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.

Danny Wilson is listed on the gameday roster against LAFC. In 2019, Wilson has scored two goals and added one assist in 1,320 minutes. 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

Homegrown defender Sebastian Anderson is listed on the gameday roster this afternoon. Anderson was recently on loan with the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and played 90 minutes in their 2-0 win over LA Galaxy II (10/5). Earlier this month, Anderson was 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 Cole Bassett features on the gameday roster today against LAFC. Earlier this month, Bassett with the US U-20s, where he scored a goal in each of his two most recent 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 with the Rapids in 2018, the 17-year-old has scored two goals and has recorded two assists in MLS action. 

Midfielder Nicolás Mezquida is listed on the gameday roster. Since joining the Rapids this past offseason, the 27-year-old has scored four goals and added five assists, including three game-winning goals. Mezquida has recorded a total of 132 MLS appearances, 61 MLS starts, 16 goals, and 10 assists in 5,786 minutes.

Jonathan Lewis features on the gameday roster today against LAFC. The 22-year-old has five goals so far in 2019. Lewis currently has 14 appearances for the Rapids in 2019 since being acquired via a trade with NYCFC on May 7, 2019. 

Colorado Rapids Injury Report