Starting XI:
Keegan Rosenberry, Danny Wilson, Auston Trusty, Jonathan Lewis, Dominique Badji, Andre Shinyashiki, Michael Barrios, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Jack Price (C), William Yarbrough, Kellyn Acosta
Bench: Clint Irwin, Drew Moor, Lalas Abubakar, Nicolás Mezquida, Cole Bassett, Collen Warner, Steven Beitashour, Braian Galván, Lucas Esteves
Player Availability Report:
Out - Younes Namli (Injury)
Out - Diego Rubio (Yellow Card accumulation)
Notes:
SIX-POINTER
Wednesday’s match is a de facto six-point contest in the race for first place in the Western Conference, with a win pulling the Rapids within three points of Sounders FC with four games still to play. Colorado is unbeaten against Seattle at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park since 2018, going 2-0-1 in that time.
A Rapids win would be the club’s 300th all-time in the regular season. It would also be the 15th of the season, tying a post-shootout era club record set in 2016.
I’M FEELING 22
Younes Namli scored his first goal of the season on Saturday in his sixth game back from surgery. Namli’s return comes just in time for the Rapids’ playoff push; the Designated Player has two goals and an assist in eight career MLS games in October and November.
Namli was Colorado’s 17th different goal-scorer of the season, which is tied for second-most in MLS. The Rapids are tied for the league lead with 22 players with at least a goal or an assist this season.
SUSTAINABLE SUCCESS
The Rapids scored their 12th set piece goal of the season on Saturday, which is tied for second-most in MLS, and marked the club’s 10th from a corner kick this season. Colorado leads MLS with 40 goals off set pieces since 2019. Jack Price leads MLS with seven assists off set pieces this season and leads the league with 21 since 2019. Diego Rubio is second in MLS with nine goals off set pieces since joining the team ahead of the 2019 season.
THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN
The Rapids will have Kellyn Acosta and Mark-Anthony Kaye available for selection for Wednesday’s match. The two recently returned from international duty, with Acosta featuring in the U.S. qualifying matches against Panama and in Jamaica and Kaye playing 173 minutes in Canada’s three qualifiers. Acosta extended his streak to 19 consecutive USMNT appearances, the longest since Landon Donovan appeared in 35 straight from 2001 to 2003, before going as an unused substitute in the win against Costa Rica. Acosta leads the team with 30 tackles won this season, while Kaye is fourth in MLS with .95 through balls per 90 minutes.
WIN AND WE’RE IN
Colorado will clinch a berth in the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs with a win over Seattle on Wednesday. The Rapids can also clinch if:
- Rapids tie vs. Seattle AND Vancouver loses or ties vs. Portland AND LA Galaxy loses vs. Houston
OR
- Rapids tie vs. Seattle AND Vancouver loses or ties vs. Portland AND Minnesota loses or ties vs. Philadelphia
OR
- Rapids tie vs. Seattle AND LA Galaxy loses vs. Houston AND Minnesota loses vs. Philadelphia AND LAFC loses or ties vs. FC Dallas
OR
- Vancouver loses or ties vs. Portland AND Minnesota loses vs. Philadelphia
NOTES & MILESTONES
- Jack Price’s next assist will be his 12th of the season, setting a new Rapids career high. He would be the first Rapids player with 12 assists in a single year since Omar Cummings in 2009.
- Drew Moor’s next appearance will be his 200th with the club. He will become the second player to reach 200 appearances with the Rapids.
- Keegan Rosenberry’s next start will be his 80th with Colorado. It will also be his 81st appearance in Burgundy, surpassing his career total with Philadelphia.
- Auston Trusty’s next start will be the 90th of his MLS career.
- Lalas Abubakar’s next appearance will be his 60th with the club.
- Kellyn Acosta’s next assist will be the 20th of his MLS career.
- Michael Barrios’ next goal will be his 40th in MLS. His next assist will be his 50th. The Colombian is one of three players in MLS with at least 35 goals and 40 assists since 2015 (Diego Valeri, Sebastian Giovinco).
- Mark-Anthony Kaye has played 758 minutes for Colorado this season, exactly the same as for LAFC in as many appearances.
