NEW ENEMY TERRITORY
The Rapids (1-3-3) visit Charlotte FC (1-4-2) this weekend for the first time in club history. Charlotte and Colorado have only faced each other once, a scoreless draw on April 23, 2022, at DICK’S Sporting Goodss Park in Charlotte’s inaugural season. The North Carolina side enters the match following a 3-1 road loss to Real Salt Lake, while the Burgundy Boys are looking to add to a three-game unbeaten stretch.
HISTORIC YARBROUGH
Rapids goalkeeper William Yarbrough is on the brink of setting a new record for most career shutouts in club history. In the Rapids’ 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City last weekend, Yarbrough recorded his 29th clean sheet for the club, tying 2010 MLS Cup-winning goalkeeper Matt Pickens for the most shutouts in club history. Yarbrough recently surpassed Joe Cannon for the fourth-most appearances by a goalkeeper in Rapids history and his 35 wins in Burgundy are one away from surpassing Clint Irwin for third-most wins by a goalkeeper in club history. The two-time Liga MX champion heads into this weekend’s game tied for fourth-most saves in MLS this season (24).
MLS TEAM OF THE MATCHDAY
On Monday, MLS announced Rapids striker Diego Rubio to the league's Team of the Matchday bench. The Chilean scored the game-winning goal in the Rapids’ 1-0 road win over SKC on Saturday, his side’s first of the season. It was his 14th game-winning goal as a member of the Rapids, adding to the all-time club record he set last season. The goal came one match after Rubio recorded his 100th regular-season appearance in Burgundy, becoming just the fourth forward in club history to achieve this feat. The Chilean forward enjoyed a career year in 2022, in which he equaled the Rapids’ all-time, single-season scoring record (16 goals) and set a new record for most goal contributions in a season in club history (16 goals, 7 assists). Rubio is currently fifth in club history with 36 regular-season goals scored all-time, just one goal away from tying John Spencer for fourth-most goals in club history. Rubio has also delivered 22 assists as a member of the Rapids, one away from tying Marcelo Balboa for eight-most in club history.
LEWIS LOOKING TO LOG 100
Rapids forward Jonathan Lewis is one game away from recording his 100th regular-season appearance with the Rapids, which would make Lewis just the fifth forward to record this feat with the club all-time. Lewis has the fifth-highest scoring percentage in club history (14.8), the seventh-highest goals per 90-minute average in club history (0.37) and the 10th-best goals per game average in club history (0.22).
All stats listed are with players who have scored a minimum of 20 goals for the Rapids.
FAMILIAR FACES
Charlotte FC forward Andre Shinyashiki was drafted with the fifth overall pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft by the Rapids. Shinyashiki scored 16 goals and delivered six assists over 86 appearances with Colorado from 2019-2022. He earned the 2019 MLS Rookie of the Year honor after scoring seven goals and tallying three assists in 31 appearances in his debut season.
CLUB CONNECTIONS
- Rapids assistant coach Neil Emblen coached Charlotte FC’s Bill Tuiloma as the caretaker manager for New Zealand’s national team in 2014.
- Rapids midfielder Jack Price and Charlotte FC defender Nathan Byrne were teammates at Wolverhampton Wolves from 2015-16.
- Rapids defender Keegan Rosenberry and Charlotte FC midfielder Derrick Jones were teammates at the Philadelphia Union from 2016-18.
- Rapids defender Keegan Rosenberry and Charlotte FC goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega were teammates at the youth level with the Philadelphia Union from 2011-12.
- Rapids defender Aboubacar Keita and Charlotte FC defender Jaylin Lindsay were teammates in 2019 with the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team.
- Rapids defenders Lalas Abubakar and Aboubacar Keita were teammates with Charlotte FC defender Harrison Afful in 2019 when they all played for Columbus Crew SC.
