LOS ANGELES — For a third consecutive year, the Colorado Rapids will kick off the MLS regular season on the road as they travel to Banc of California Stadium to take on LAFC this Saturday, February 26 (1:30 p.m. MT | Univision, TUDN, Twitter).
“Really looking forward to getting started,” Rapids head coach Robin Fraser said. “We’ve obviously had a slightly longer preseason in getting ready for Champions League, but I’ve said this a couple of times—in all of our games we’ve had some really good moments and it’s just been a matter of getting closer to putting them all together. Certainly, this last game, we’re disappointed about the loss, but we felt like we played well and put ourselves in a position to win the game. Now we need to go and do that, just execute in the final third and take our chances.”
The Rapids return the vast majority of the squad that finished the 2021 regular season atop the Western Conference. The club signed several players to new contracts during the offseason, including defenders Steven Beitashour, Drew Moor, Keegan Rosenberry and Danny Wilson; midfielders Mark-Anthony Kaye, Nicolas Mezquida and Jack Price; and forward Michael Barrios. On the departing end, midfielder Kellyn Acosta was traded to LAFC in a deal worth up to $1.5 million in General Allocation Money (GAM), while midfielder Cole Bassett was allowed to pursue his European ambitions in an 18-month loan to Feyenoord (Netherlands). Forward Dominique Badji left the club as a free agent and was signed by FC Cincinnati, while the club did not exercise options on goalkeeper Andre Rawls; defenders Kortne Ford and Jeremy Kelly; and midfielders Younes Namli and Will Vint. Defender Auston Trusty was transferred to English Premier League side Arsenal FC but will remain in Colorado on loan until July.
Colorado also made key additions in the offseason, acquiring Honduran international midfielder Bryan Acosta via the Re-Entry Draft, as well signing Brazilian midfielder Max Alves (“Max”) from Flamengo and U.S. youth international defender Aboubacar Keita from Columbus Crew. Acosta and Max both made their competitive debuts with the club during the first leg of the Rapids’ Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 series against Comunicaciones FC, while Max scored on his first start in Burgundy in the second leg.
Fraser’s side will face an LAFC team in the midst of a transition year following the departure of head coach Bob Bradley to Toronto FC this offseason, along with defenders Eduard Atuesta and Tristan Blackmon. Former U.S. Men’s National Team fullback Steve Cherundolo has taken up the reins as head coach, while the club also brought in Acosta, goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau and defenders Franco Escobar and Ryan Hollingshead. The Black & Gold will also continue to count on former league MVP Carlos Vela and forward Cristian Arango––who netted 14 goals in 17 appearances for LA in 2021, to lead the line.
Saturday’s encounter will be a familiar one, as the two sides last met on Decision Day to close the 2021 regular season. Jonathan Lewis bagged a brace that night as the Rapids stormed to a 5-2 win that eliminated LAFC from playoff contention. This will also be midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye’s first trip to Banc of California Stadium with the Rapids since joining Colorado in July 2021. Defender Steven Beitashour will also be squaring off against his former club, having previously been a member of the Black & Gold during their inaugural season in 2018 and their Supporters’ Shield-winning campaign in 2019.
Colorado has been one of the most successful teams on the road in recent years. The club finished the 2020 season tied for the most wins away from home (5), while in 2021, the Rapids compiled the third-best road record in MLS and second-best in the Western Conference (8W-6L-3D). The Burgundy Boys are 7-4-4 on opening day since 2007.
