Starting XI:
Danny Wilson, Auston Trusty, Lalas Abubakar, Dominique Badji, Diego Rubio, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Jack Price (C), William Yarbrough, Kellyn Acosta, Cole Bassett, Braian Galván
Bench: Clint Irwin, Drew Moor, Jonathan Lewis, Andre Shinyashiki, Michael Barrios, Nicolás Mezquida, Collen Warner, Steven Beitashour, Lucas Esteves
Player Availability Report:
Out - Younes Namli (Injury)
Out - Keegan Rosenberry (Injury)
Notes:
JUST WIN, BABY
The Rapids can clinch a second playoff berth in two full seasons under Robin Fraser with a win on Saturday. Colorado can also clinch with a draw AND...
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC lose vs. San Jose Earthquakes OR
- Minnesota United FC lose or tie vs. Los Angeles FC OR
- LA Galaxy lose or tie vs. FC Dallas
Colorado can also clinch with a loss on Saturday AND...
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC lose or tie vs. San Jose Earthquakes AND
- LA Galaxy lose vs. FC Dallas
OR
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC lose or tie vs. San Jose Earthquakes AND
- Minnesota United FC-Los Angeles FC tie
The Rapids can also clinch a top-four seed and home-field advantage in the first round with a win, pending other results. Colorado clinched its last two playoff berths with wins over Portland, both 1-0. In November 2020, Kellyn Acosta scored in the 83rd minute at Providence Park to clinch in the penultimate game of the regular season. In October 2016, Sebastien Le Toux scored to give the Rapids a 1-0 win to clinch a playoff berth.
DEAD BALL, LOOK ALIVE
The Rapids scored their second consecutive goal off a corner kick when Dominique Badji headed in Jack Price’s service on Wednesday against Seattle. The goal was Colorado’s 11th off a corner this season, the most in MLS, and its 13th off a set piece, tied for the league lead (Seattle, Philadelphia).
The assist was Price’s eighth from a set play in 2021, which leads MLS. Price set a Rapids career high with his 12th assist of the season on Badji’s goal. He is the first Rapids player to reach 12 assists in a season since Omar Cummings in 2009. Price is two assists away from tying Terry Cooke for second-most on the Rapids all-time list (34).
Colorado leads MLS with 41 goals off set pieces since 2019, by far the most in MLS (next highest are Chicago and Seattle with 30).
The Rapids have conceded just two goals off indirect set pieces (including corner kicks), the fewest in MLS. Their four goals conceded off set pieces (including direct free kicks) are tied for the fewest (RBNY).
Colorado’s set piece guru is assistant & goalkeeper coach Chris Sharpe.
SHIVER ME TIMBERS
This is Portland’s first visit to DICK’S Sporting Goods Park since #SnowClasico3 in March 2019. Kellyn Acosta assisted on Kei Kamara’s opener and Benny Feilhaber scored before Andre Shinyashiki scored his first career MLS goal in stoppage time to equalize the coldest match in MLS history (18 degrees), 3-3. The Rapids are undefeated in their last four encounters against the Timbers, drawing three.
NOTES & MILESTONES
- Colorado’s next win will be its 300th all-time in the regular season.
- Drew Moor’s next appearance will be his 200th with Colorado. He will be the second player in club history to reach the milestone (Pablo Mastroeni).
- Dominique Badji’s next appearance will be his 100th with Colorado in MLS. He is tied for seventh on Colorado’s all-time scoring list (Mark Chung) and his 26 goals are second-most by a Rapids SuperDraft pick in Burgundy (Omar Cummings, 39). His next goal will be his 27th, tying current assistant coach Wolde Harris for sixth in club history.
- Michael Barrios has four goals in 12 career appearances against Portland. He scored a wondergoal in the 2-2 draw in Oregon on Sept. 15
- Kellyn Acosta has two goals and three assists in 10 career matches against Portland. Acosta scored Colorado’s playoff-clinching goal in Portland on Nov. 4, 2020.
- Mark-Anthony Kaye has three goals and two assists in eight career matches against Portland. His .85 through balls per 90 minutes are fourth-most in MLS among players with at least 10 games played.
- Jonathan Lewis has two goals in four career appearances against Portland.
- Nico Mezquida’s next appearance will be his 70th since joining the club ahead of the 2019 season.
- Diego Rubio has two goals and an assist in six career matches against Portland. Rubio assisted on Kellyn Acosta’s playoff-clinching goal in Portland in November 2020.
- Andre Shinyashiki has one goal and an assist in four career matches against Portland.
