COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — The Colorado Rapids (2-3-2, 8 pts) return home to face expansion side Charlotte FC (3-5-0, 9 pts). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on Altitude Sports and Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM.
Colorado enters Saturday’s match following a 3-1 loss in Minnesota last weekend in which the Rapids had eight shots on target and equalized through Diego Rubio’s fourth goal of the season just before halftime. For the second straight week, Colorado conceded twice in the second half to fall on the road. The result dropped the Rapids down to 10th in the Western Conference and saw them hit four games without a win. Robin Fraser’s side lost back-to-back matches for the first time since 2020.
"The biggest thing for me is that the guys remain confident and keep playing well and keep doing the things that they know they need to do in constructing attacks and then just continue to chip away, work on the finishing," said Fraser.
Returning home to DICK’S Sporting Goods Park for the first time since April 2, the Rapids can set a club record with a win or a draw which would cement a 20th-consecutive home regular season match without a loss.
Colorado will face newcomers Charlotte FC as they seek the franchise record. Recent matchups with expansion sides have been a mixed bag for the Rapids. They fell at home to expansion side Austin FC on April 24 of last year but then rebounded to beat Austin twice, once in July and once in September. In 2019, Colorado beat FC Cincinnati 3-1 at home but went winless against MLS expansion sides from 2015-2018.
Charlotte’s first season is off to a solid start after securing three wins at home. Earlier this week they topped Greenville Triumph SC 2-1 in extra time to advance in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. They have yet to secure a win or a draw on the road.
Milestone Tracker
· The Rapids can hit a club record 20-consecutive home regular season matches without a loss if they draw or win on Saturday
· Jack Price is one assist away from sole possession of second-most assists all-time in club history (currently T-2nd with 34).
· Michael Barrios is one goal away from reaching 40 career goals in MLS.
· Mark-Anthony Kaye is one appearance away from reaching 100 MLS regular season appearances.
· Jonathan Lewis is one appearance away from reaching 100 MLS regular season appearances.
· Steven Beitashour is 41 minutes away from reaching 22,000 regular season minutes all-time in MLS.
