Starting XI:
William Yarbrough, Keegan Rosenberry, Lalas Abubakar, Danny Wilson, Younes Namli, Kellyn Acosta, Jack Price, Cole Bassett, Jonathan Lewis, Diego Rubio, Andre Shinyashiki
Subs:
Clint Irwin, Drew Moor, Auston Trusty, Nicolas Benezet, Sam Vines, Nicolás Mezquida, Collen Warner, Steve Beitashour, Braian Galván
Injury Report
Not Medically Cleared:
Kortne Ford
Notes:
Third Time's the Charm
This is the third meeting of 2020 between Colorado and Minnesota. The Rapids and Loons tie, 2-2, on July 22 at the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando, while an unfortunate last-minute own goal gave Minnesota a 2-1 win at home in their second encounter of the season. That game was four days after played their first match in a month with limited training due to COVID-19 cases among the team. Since then, the Rapids have won three in a row, including 3-1 win over Seattle and 1-0 win at Portland to clinch a playoff berth. Colorado's 5-3-1 road record is tied for second-best in MLS and the Rapids' five wins as visitor are tied for the league lead.
Competing for Championships
This is Colorado's first appearance in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs since 2016, but plenty of Rapids' players have playoff experience. Head coach Robin Fraser was an assistant coach for MLS Cup champions Real Salt Lake in 2009 and Toronto FC in 2017, as well as for TFC's MLS Cup Final run in 2016. Also on Toronto's 2017 championship team were goalkeeper Clint Irwin, defender Steven Beitashour and defender Drew Moor. Irwin also appeared in the playoffs with Colorado in 2013, and Moor won his first MLS Cup with Colorado in 2010.
Other Rapids players with playoff experience include midfielder Nicolas Benezet, who started all four of Toronto's games in 2019 and scored in the Eastern Conference final en route to MLS Cup final, while midfielder Kellyn Acosta made six playoff appearances in three postseasons with Dallas. Defender Lalas Abubakar, Auston Trusty and Keegan Rosenberry; midfielder Nicolás Mezquida, Collen Warner; and forwards Jonathan Lewis and Diego Rubio have all appeared in the MLS Cup Playoffs in their careers.
