Starting Lineup:
GK Tim Howard returns to the Starting XI after missing the last two games due to his participation in the 2017 Gold Cup and the 2017 MLS All-Star Game. Howard has been in goal 13 times this season, and 30 overall since joining the Rapids last summer. All-time, he has a regular season record of 47-47-20 in Major League Soccer.
DEF Eric Miller is 42 minutes shy of hitting the 1,500-minute mark this season. This will be his 18th start and appearance of 2017. Last weekend, Miller showed off his versatility along the backline by playing the first half at right back and the second at left back.
DEF Jared Watts played a full match for the first time since the 3-0 loss at Chicago Fire (5/17). Watts will be making his 12th start and 14th appearance of 2017. He is 31 minutes away from reaching 1,000 minutes this season.
DEF Axel Sjöberg will be making his third consecutive start for the first time this season. Sjöberg has missed a total of 13 regular season matches due to various injuries to his left leg. In 52 regular season starts, Sjöberg has only missed a combined 19 minutes, going the distance in 50 of the 52 games.
DEF Mike da Fonte was replaced at halftime of the 1-0 loss at San Jose Earthquakes. He has started the team’s last 10 regular season contests, going the distance in eight of those. Da Fonte was also replaced at halftime of the 1-0 win against Sporting KC (5/27).
MID Micheal Azira was subbed off for the first time in 2017 during the 1-0 loss at San Jose Earthquakes. After 20 matches, Azira is the only Rapids player to receive a suspension due to yellow card accumulation. This will mark Azira’s team-high 19th start of the season.
MID Mohammed Saeid surpassed the 5,000-minute mark in MLS after going the full 90 minutes at midfield during the 1-0 loss at San Jose Earthquakes. Saeid will be making his 15th start for the Rapids, and 60th overall since his arrival to the league in 2015.
MID Marlon Hairston surpassed 1,500 minutes in 2017, as well as 4,500 minutes in his career during the 1-0 loss at San Jose Earthquakes. Hairston is two appearances shy of tying his career-high (22) set back during his rookie campaign in 2014. Hairston will be making his 18th start and team-high 21st appearance of the season.
MID Shkëlzen Gashi will make his first start in eight games after Achilles and calf injuries kept him sidelined for the past two months of the season. The Albania international will be making his eighth start and 10th appearance of 2017. In the first of three meetings against Vancouver, Gashi played the 90 minutes and registered a game-high five shots.
FWD Dominique Badji did not register a single shot for just the second time all season in games in which he was in the Starting XI. Badji still ranks first in goals (6), assists (5), and shots on goal (16). He will be making his 17th start and 20th appearance of 2017.
FWD Kevin Doyle’s three shots during the 1-0 loss at San Jose Earthquakes took him to 150 total since his arrival in Commerce City in May 2015. Doyle’s four goals and four assists rank him second on the team, only behind Badji. This will be his 18th start and 20th appearance of 2017 for the Irishman.
On the bench:
GK John Berner will make the gameday squad for the third game in a row. Berner will back up Howard for the first time all year. Last season, Berner made 20 appearances for the Rapids’ USL affiliate, Charlotte Independence, registering a 0.96 GAA along the way.
DEF Kortne Ford was an unused sub in the 1-0 loss at San Jose Earthquakes. During All-Star week, Ford earned MVP honors at the MLS Homegrown Game after notching the game-tying goal in the 93rd minute. This season, Ford has appeared in nine contests for the Rapids at the center-back position.
MID Nana Boateng played the final 24 minutes of the 1-0 loss at San Jose Earthquakes, registering two shots along the way. Boateng missed the first meeting against the Whitecaps FC three months ago due to a back injury that sidelined the Ghanaian midfielder for two months.
MID Dillon Serna returns to the bench after starting the last six regular season games. Serna played 66 minutes of the 1-0 loss at San Jose Earthquakes, before being replaced by Boateng. Despite only starting six games thus far, Serna ranks third on the team in shots (19) and fourth in shots goal (5).
MID Joshua Gatt will be available off the bench for the first time in eight games. The last time Gatt came on as a substitute, he registered his first-ever assist in MLS, in the 2-1 home win over Columbus Crew SC (6/3). Gatt was out of the gameday roster for the last four matches due to an ankle injury.
FWD Caleb Calvert was available for selection but did not see the field for the first time since the 3-0 loss against Chicago Fire (5/17). This season, Calvert has appeared in 12 matches, with three of those contests coming from the start.
FWD Alan Gordon replaced Mike da Fonte at half time of the 1-0 loss at San Jose Earthquakes. Three months ago, Gordon would make his second of four starts for the Rapids, playing 73 minutes of the 1-0 loss against the Whitecaps FC at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
