The Rapids battle FC Dallas tonight in the team's last home game for five weeks, when the club returns to DICK'S Sporting Goods Park to take on Seattle on July 4. Tonight's lineup looks a little different, without Kellyn Acosta who is with the USMNT for international duty. See the lineup below.
Starting XI: William Yarbrough, Keegan Rosenberry, Danny Wilson, Auston Trusty, Sam Vines, Jack Price (C), Nicolas Mezquida, Cole Bassett, Michael Barrios, Diego Rubio, Jonathan Lewis
Bench: Clint Irwin, Drew Moor, Andre Shinyashiki, Nicolas Benezet, Kortne Ford, Oliver Larraz, Collen Warner, Braian Galvan, Darren Yapi
Jonathan Lewis and Nicolas Mezquida are making their first starts of the season, and Braian Galvan makes the 18-man lineup for the first time this year. Galvan looked very good throughout preseason, so it will be welcome return when he's back on the pitch, whether he appears tonight as a substitution or if he makes his 2021 debut following the FIFA break. The appearances for Rubio and Vines also both mark major MLS milestones, with 100 and 50 career appearances, respectively.
1' - Aaaaaand we're off! The Rapids and FC Dallas both are sporting PRIMEBLUE kits made from upcycled ocean plastic. The Rapids are in the darker of the two blue kits as the home side.
2' - Cole Bassett rushes in to put his signature pressure on the 'keeper, which leads to a rushed pass to the Dallas defender, and subsequent good pressure from Diego Rubio leads to a turnover. The Rapids aren't quite able to get a shot off from the top of the box, but the effort definitely led to productive possession.
3' - FC Dallas quickly counters, and Yarbrough comes far out, using a diving header to clear the ball that was quickly becoming a 1-v-1 situation right outside the box.
9' - The Rapids are showing early on that they are here to work and put on the full-court press. Nicolas Mezquida appears to be all over the field, Jonathan Lewis has a clear energetic spark, and Michael Barrios and Bassett nearly earn a goal after tormenting the Dallas defenders into another turnover in their own final third. Impressive energy to start things off, to be sure.
13' - GOAL - Keegan Rosenberry fires in the perfect strike from about 25 yards out to put the Rapids on the board first. Despite not earning a notch on the scoresheet, Lewis is definitely an unsung hero on that goal. He won a hard battle just north of midfield to kick off the offensive break. Colorado leads 1-0.
25' - The Rapids definitely have the momentum following the goal, but Dallas isn't backing down. They get a bit of an offensive break through the middle of the field, finding the gap that would normally be filled by Kellyn Acosta. The Rapids defense recovers, slows down the pace and handles.
26' - Barrios finds Rubio at the top of the box, and Rubio fires one off, and it slams off the woodwork. The Barrios, Rubio connection is alive and well again tonight.
32' - What a read by Barrios. Lewis commits a foul on the Rapids end, and Dallas lines up for the free kick. But Dallas' attempt doesn't make it far, as it goes right to the feet of Barrios. The Rapids forward is playing against his former club tonight, and you have to think that helped contribute to his keen ability to read the ball and the Dallas midfielder on that play.
34' - Trusty makes another confident tackle in the box, quickly catching his man and cleanly stripping him of the ball just yards from goal.
37' - Talk about an almost goal. Price plays a solid ball from the midfield up to Lewis, right at the corner of the 18. Lewis plays a beautiful first-time pass out of the air to Mezquida, who is 1-v-1 with the 'keeper. He is fouled from behind, and the referee reviews.
40' - Rubio takes the penalty kick, a powerful shot aimed for the left corner that is met with an impressive save by Dallas goalkeeper Jimmy Mauer. The penalty kick attempt marks the Rapids first since September 2019
42' - GOAL - Trusty fires a shot from just about the six-yard box, and it hits off a Dallas defender and into the net. The play all started with an outswinger corner from Price that was cleared by FC Dallas, but kept in thanks to a great effort in the midfield from Barrios. Good awareness from Trusty, too, to recognize his distance from net and fire in a hard shot. Rapids lead 2-0.
45' - And we're back! Interestingly, Dallas led possession with 64% at the half. Normally, when the Rapids have the lead, they are also dominant in control of the ball. It's a good example of the team's versatility to be able to use their limited possession to still own a commanding lead.
47' - Wilson strips his man of the ball in the box, but he loses possession, and Dallas fires in a point-blank shot at Yarbrough. At first look, it seemed to just hit off the crossbar, but it was in fact a very impressive deflection from Yarbrough.
50' - All hustle from Lewis on both sides of the ball tonight. He has looked impressive. He hustles back deep on defense to stop the Dallas break in its tracks. The way the Rapids are playing with their outside backs, allowing them to float high up and contribute on offense, requires the buy-in from everyone on the wing to track back when necessary. Good example of that from Lewis.
53' - Yarbrough with another impressive save. Dallas fires one toward the corner with speed from the top of the box, and Yarbrough dives for his fifth save of the night.
57' - SUBSTITUTION - Andre Shinyashiki enters the game for Lewis. Lewis had a great game tonight, and adding Shinyashiki as a sub early in the second like this allows the high effort from the Rapids squad to continue.
60' - Things are getting chippy. Shinyashiki and his man get in an argument that leads to a Dallas yellow card, and, seconds later, Barrios is taken down in the box, but no foul is called. The tension is palpable.
66' - You can tell Barrios wants a revenge goal tonight. Mezquida finds him in the middle of the pitch, and Barrios takes it himself, confidently facing up against multiple defenders. His shot goes wide right.
71' - GOAL - I promise I wrote that last burb before this one. Bassett plays a flawless curving long ball to Barrios, who carries from the wing to the top of the box and fires it home to the corner. Rapids lead 3-0.
74' - SUBSTITUTION - Drew Moor comes in for Barrios to bring home the victory. Nicolas Mezquida is also replaced by Nicolas Benezet.
80' - SUBSTITUTION - Homegrown Oliver Larraz enters the game for his second consecutive home appearance. He repaces Rubio.
