Preview: Rapids Return to League Play as They Host LAFC on Saturday

The Colorado Rapids (3-4-3, 12 pts) will face their second game in 48 hours as they host Los Angeles Football Club (7-1-2, 23 pts) at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park on Saturday, May 14 (1:30 p.m. MT; Univision, TUDN, Twitter).

Saturday’s match will be the second and final regular-season encounter between the Rapids and LAFC after the two teams opened their respective seasons against each other at Banc of California on February 26.

Robin Fraser’s side enters the rematch on a quick turnaround after facing Minnesota United FC midweek in the Round of 32 in the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. After kicking off on Wednesday night, the match was postponed in the 18th minute with the score tied at 1-1 due to inclement weather in St. Paul and was not restarted until Thursday afternoon. Defender Anthony Markanich, who the Rapids selected 26th overall in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, made his official club debut and hit the post with the score still tied before Minnesota’s Emanuel Reynoso scored the go-ahead goal for his side with three minutes remaining to move the Loons into the tournament’s Round of 16.  

Despite recent results on the road, the Rapids will look to ride the momentum of their club-record, unbeaten run at home. Colorado reached 21 consecutive games recording at least a point at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park with its 2-0 win over the Portland Timbers in their last home match. That streak currently ranks seventh all-time in MLS history; a result on Saturday would tie the Rapids for fifth all-time.

The Rapids will be boosted by the return of forward Diego Rubio in league play following his recent suspension for a red card on April 30, while defender Danny Wilson made an appearance in the Rapids’ U.S. Open Cup match, his first since April 9 due to a hamstring injury. Rubio leads Colorado with five goals on the season, tied for third-most in MLS and ranking fourth in the league in non-penalty expected goals.

LAFC arrives in Colorado following a U.S. Open Cup match of their own, beating the Timbers 2-0 at home on Wednesday. Led by Mexican international Carlos Vela (4g, 3a), LAFC have lost just once all season and currently lead MLS in points while outscoring their opponents 30-11 this year.