Starting XI:
William Yarbrough, Steven Beitashour, Keegan Rosenberry, Lalas Abubakar, Auston Trusty, Braian Galván, Collen Warner, Jack Price (C), Andre Shinyashiki, Michael Barrios, Cole Bassett
Bench: Clint Irwin, Drew Moor, Dominique Badji, Nico Mezquida, Kortne Ford, Sebastian Anderson, Oliver Larraz
Player Availability Report:
Out – Younes Namli (Injury)
Out – Kellyn Acosta (International Duty)
Out – Mark-Anthony Kaye (International Duty)
Out – Jeremy Kelly (Injury)
Out – Jonathan Lewis (International Duty)
Out – Younes Namli (Injury)
Out – Diego Rubio (Injury)
Out – Sam Vines (International Duty)
Out – Danny Wilson (Yellow card accumulation)
Notes:
BEITSAHOUR ENTERS THE XI
Steven Beitashour makes his first start since joining the Rapids midway through 2020. Beitashour has played in both of Colorado's last two matches and will make his 250th career MLS appearance tonight.
Additionally, Dominique Badji was included on the matchday roster after being acquired from Nashville SC via trade on Thursday. Sebastian Anderson and Oliver Larraz, both teenage Homegrowns, were also included.
"A Half-Decent Plan"
Since Robin Fraser’s first match at the helm on Aug. 31, 2019, the Rapids have posted seven clean sheets on the road, which is tied with D.C. United for the most in MLS. Colorado has posted six clean sheets on the road since the start of 2020, which is tied with Philadelphia Union for the league lead since then. The Rapids are the only team in the Western Conference to post three clean sheets on the road this season.
“Our road success is really about the mentality of our team,” Rapids head coach Robin Fraser said during his weekly media availability on Thursday. “We feel like it’s something we take real pride in, is how we defend and how we try to slow down opponents. If you take a half-decent plan and you take players who are very, very committed, then you can make it difficult for teams. We’ve certainly been able to do that so far this year. It really comes down to a very compliant, very intelligent and hard-working group of guys.”
Finish the Job
Colorado is one of just two teams in MLS (Nashville) to allow fewer than two goals in the final 15 minutes of matches this season. The Rapids’ five goals conceded in the second half this season are tied for the fewest in MLS (Columbus). Colorado has allowed just two second-half goals since its first meeting with Austin FC on April 24.
Winning Mentality
Following a road loss, the Rapids are 5-3-2 (W-L-D) in their next road game under Robin Fraser. In September 2019, Colorado bounced back from a loss at Toronto FC with a win at Sporting KC and found similar success in February 2020 at D.C. United, September 2020 at LA Galaxy, November 2020 at Portland and in June at Cincinnati. Overall, the Rapids are 6-2-4 (W-L-D) in matches following a loss under Fraser, across all competitions.
Set Piece Kings
In the first meeting between these teams on April 24, Andre Shinyashiki scored Colorado’s first goal of the season on a header off an Jack Price corner kick delivery. Four of Colorado’s first five goals of the season were off set pieces, with two off corners, one indirect free kick and one direct free kick, courtesy of Diego Rubio. The Rapids have scored six goals off set pieces this season and lead MLS with 34 since 2019.
Busy Week
The Rapids made two additions to the roster this week. On Tuesday, the club announced it acquired midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye from Los Angeles FC, and on Thursday, the club announced the return of forward Dominique Badji via trade from Nashville SC. Badji is available for selection on Saturday, while Kaye is away with the Canada Men’s National Team at the Concacaf Gold Cup. Kaye scored nine goals and added 18 assists in 77 MLS appearances in four years for LAFC, while Badji scored 24 goals and 12 assists in three and a half seasons in Burgundy from 2015 to 2018.
NOTES & MILESTONES
- The Rapids’ next clean sheet will be their 200th all-time.
- Jack Price’s next assist will be his 26th with Colorado in MLS, tying Dillon Powers for fifth-most in club history. Price is tied for fifth in MLS this season with five assists, matching his team-leading total from 2020.
- Andre Shinyashiki’s next goal will be the 14th of his MLS career, tying Dillon Powers for fifth-most by a Rapids SuperDraft selection.
- Michael Barrios is tied for second in MLS with three game-winning assists.
- Colorado has hit the woodwork seven times this season, tied for third-most in MLS.
- The Rapids will be without Kellyn Acosta, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Jonathan Lewis and Sam Vines, who are with their respective national teams at the Concacaf Gold Cup.
