Starting XI:
William Yarbrough, Steven Beitashour, Keegan Rosenberry, Lalas Abubakar, Auston Trusty, Braian Galván, Collen Warner, Jack Price (C), Cole Bassett, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Michael Barrios
Bench: Clint Irwin, Drew Moor, Danny Wilson, Jonathan Lewis, Andre Shinyashiki, Diego Rubio, Jeremy Kelly, Nicolás Mezquida, Dominique Badji
Player Availability Report:
Out – Younes Namli (injury)
Out – Kellyn Acosta (health and safety protocols)
Notes:
REINFORCEMENTS HAVE ARRIVED
The Rapids bolstered their squad last week with the acquisitions of Mark-Anthony Kaye and Dominique Badji from Los Angeles FC and Nashville SC, respectively. Kaye joined the club after a successful run with the Canada Men’s National Team at the Concacaf Gold Cup, helping the North Americans reach the semifinal for the first time since 2007. The 26-year-old had one assist in nine starts among 10 appearances for LAFC this season.
Badji, meanwhile, rejoins the Rapids after making 12 starts in 17 appearances for Nashville, adding one goal and two assists. The 28-year-old was originally drafted by Colorado 67th overall (round 4) at the 2015 MLS SuperDraft and made 70 starts among 91 MLS appearances, adding 24 goals and 12 assists during his time in Colorado between 2015 and 2018.
Fresh off winning the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup on Sunday, Kellyn Acosta and Jonathan Lewis are back with the club. Acosta leads MLS with 2.6 tackles won per game among players with at least 10 games played. Acosta is six tackles off the league lead despite having played at least five fewer games than any player with more tackles won than him.
BACK IN FRIENDLY CONFINES
After two games on the road, the Rapids return to DICK’S Sporting Goods Park, where they have a 5-1-2 (W-L-D) record this season, the second-best home record in the Western Conference (LA Galaxy, 7-2-0). Sporting KC, meanwhile, boasts the third-best road record in MLS at 5-3-0.
The Rapids are undefeated in their last seven matches against Sporting KC at DSGP. They drew the three most recent meetings after the Rapids won the previous four; Sporting hasn’t won in Colorado since 2014. The Burgundy Boys are also undefeated in their last seven matches at DSGP.
The Rapids are also on a 32-game MLS scoring streak at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park, the longest active streak in the league. If Colorado scores tonight, they will pass Miami Fusion (32 games from 4/4/8 - for fifth-longest in MLS history.
FOREVER A RAPID
On Thursday, the Rapids bid farewell to Sam Vines, who was transferred to Belgian side Royal Antwerp FC. Vines departs as one of the club’s most successful Academy alumni ever. Vines’ 53 MLS appearances are third-most by a Rapids Academy product, and his 49 starts are second. The Colorado Springs native was the first Rapids Academy product to start a match for the USMNT, score a goal for the USMNT at a senior international tournament and to win the Concacaf Gold Cup.
NOTES & MILESTONES
- Colorado boasts the highest shot conversion rate (inc. blocks) at home in MLS, at 14.81 percent. The Rapids have scored 16 goals on 108 shots at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park this season..
- Michael Barrios has five goals and four assists in 16 career games against Sporting KC.
- Dominique Badji has two goals in 10 career appearances against Sporting KC, including one with the Rapids in March 2018, a 2-2 draw at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park. F Diego Rubio scored the equalizer for Sporting in stoppage time in that match.
- The club’s next home win will be its 200th all-time in the regular season. The club reached 200 all-time regular season clean sheets on Saturday in Austin.
- Dominique Badji’s next goal will be his 25th with Colorado, which would pass Marcelo Balboa for sole possession of eighth on the club’s all-time scoring list.
- Mark-Anthony Kaye’s next goal will be his first with Colorado and the 10th of his career. Kaye is two assists away from 20 in his career.
- Michael Barrios is two assists away from the 50th of his MLS career. Barrios would be the 11th active player to reach the milestone.
- Jack Price’s next assist will be his 26th in MLS, tying Dillon Powers for fifth-most in club history.
- Auston Trusty’s next appearance will be the 80th of his MLS career.
- Collen Warner’s next start will be the 160th of his MLS career.
- William Yarbrough is tied for second in MLS with seven clean sheets.
