Starting XI:
Keegan Rosenberry, Danny Wilson, Auston Trusty, Lalas Abubakar, Dominique Badji, Diego Rubio, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Jack Price (C), William Yarbrough, Kellyn Acosta, Cole Bassett
Bench: Clint Irwin, Drew Moor, Jonathan Lewis, Andre Shinyashiki, Michael Barrios, Younes Namli, Collen Warner, Steven Beitashour, Braian Galván
Player Availability Report:
N/A
Notes:
THE GRAVY
In Robin Fraser’s second full season as head coach, the Rapids completed the best regular season in club history. The Rapids finished atop the Western Conference for the first time ever with a club record 61 points. Their 13 clean sheets tied a club record, and their 17 wins are the most in the post-shootout era (they won 20 in 1999). Since Fraser’s first game in charge on Aug. 31, 2019, the Rapids’ 1.76 points per game are the second-most in MLS.
TURKEY SHOOT
The Rapids scored 14 goals on set pieces (including corners, direct and indirect free kicks), tied for the most in the league (NYC, PHI, SEA). They also conceded just four on set pieces, the fewest in MLS, while Portland conceded 13 on set pieces. Jack Price led the league with eight assists off set pieces in the regular season; he leads MLS with 22 since 2019 (next highest is New England Carles Gil with 11).
Ten Rapids players scored at least one set piece goal this season, the highest number on any team in MLS.
The Rapids lead MLS with 42 set piece goals since 2019, by far the most in MLS; the next highest is Seattle with 31. Colorado’s set piece guru is assistant and goalkeeper coach Chris Sharpe.
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAY
The Rapids finished with the second-best home record in the Western Conference and were the only team to lose just one game at home, the fewest in MLS. Colorado has won its last two matches at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park, a run that began with a 2-0 win over Portland on Oct. 23.
Colorado finished with a +17 goal differential (31-14) at home, the highest in the Western Conference and the second-best in MLS. The Rapids’ 14 goals conceded at home were tied for the fewest in the West.
Colorado is 8-7-3 all-time at home in MLS Cup Playoffs, including four of their last six, dating back to the 2010 MLS Cup championship run. The Rapids and Timbers have never faced each other in the postseason.
POTLUCK OF GOALS
Eighteen different Rapids players scored at least one goal this season, tied for the most on any team in MLS. Additionally, the Rapids had 22 players earn at least one goal or assist, which was third most in the league. Twenty-one of 23 Rapids outfield players with at least 30 minutes played contributed at least a goal or an assist.
OVEN MITS
William Yarbrough finished the season fourth in MLS with 107 saves, second with a 76.81 save percentage (min. 10 GP) and tied for the league lead with 13 clean sheets – the only goalkeeper in MLS to finish in the top five in all three categories.
LEFTOVERS
- If he scores or assists on Thursday, Cole Bassett will become the youngest player in club history to do so in an MLS Cup Playoff match (20 years, 120 days). Bassett became the youngest player in club history to play in, start and play a full 90 minutes in a playoff game in 2020 at 19 years, 117 days old.
- Current head coach and former Rapids defender Robin Fraser is the oldest player in club history to assist in a playoff match, doing so at 35 years, 285 days old in 2002.
- The Rapids are unbeaten in their last five against Portland, including wins in two of the last three meetings.
- Andre Shinyashiki scored his first career MLS goal against Portland in #SnowClasico3 on March 2, 2019, a stoppage-time equalizer in the coldest match in MLS history.
