Starting Lineup:
GK Tim Howard registered six saves in a match for the fourth time this season, in the previous game in Vancouver. His season-high is seven stops, achieved during the 1-0 defeats at New York Red Bulls on March 11 and at Atlanta United FC on June 24. This year, Howard has played every single minute (1,890) of the 21 regular season matches he’s appeared in.
DEF Eric Miller will feature at right back for the third match in a row after playing on the left during the 3-0 loss at LA Galaxy on September 2. Miller, while with Montreal Impact, made his MLS debut against FC Dallas in Week 1 of the 2014 season. In his four-year career, Miller has started all five games he’s been available against the Texas club.
DEF Kortne Ford will be making his fifth consecutive start for the second time this season, with the first taking place from May 20-June 21 when he played all 90 minutes in the same number of matches. Ford’s only appearance as a substitute came during the 0-0 draw at FC Dallas on August 12, replacing Axel Sjöberg at centerback at halftime.
DEF Bobby Burling will be in the starting lineup for the first time in exactly four months, after missing the last 17 matches due to a foot injury suffered in this year’s U.S. Open Cup. In 2017, Burling has appeared in nine games, with all but two of those coming from the start. His last MLS appearance was on May 27 versus Sporting Kansas City.
DEF Mekeil Williams played all 90 minutes of the 2-1 defeat against Vancouver Whitecaps FC, at left back. Williams has now gone the distance in five of the last six regular season matches. In two seasons with the club, he has logged 2,685 in 36 games (31 starts). The Trinidad and Tobago international is one booking away from a suspension.
MID Nana Boateng returns to the Starting XI for the first time since the 4-1 loss at Real Salt Lake just over a month ago. Boateng played the final two minutes of the 0-0 draw against FC Dallas on August 12. This will be Boateng’s seventh regular season start and 14th appearance of 2017.
MID Micheal Azira is one yellow card shy of tying his season-high set last year (9). Azira registered his second shot on goal in as many matches during the 2-1 loss at Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Azira is 97 minutes away from reaching 5,000 since arriving in Commerce City following the 2015 season. He will miss Saturday's home game with Montreal Impact (TICKETS) if booked tonight.
MID Stefan Aigner will make his first-ever start for the Rapids after coming off the bench in the last four matches, playing a combined 97 minutes. Aigner did not make the 18 during the first meeting against FC Dallas on August 12.
MID Mohammed Saeid is now 82 minutes away from hitting 2,000 for the Rapids since being traded, along with Joshua Gatt, from Minnesota United FC on March 31 in exchange for Marc Burch. Saeid will be appearing in his 14th consecutive regular season match and 28th overall in 2017.
MID Dillon Serna was an unused sub during the 2-1 defeat against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The Homegrown player will also be in the starting lineup for the first time in over a month, with his last start taking place during the 2-1 defeat at Portland Timbers on August 23. FC Dallas is the only team that Serna has multiple goals against, tallying two of his three goals in 2015 against the Texas club.
FWD Dominique Badji found the back of the net for the third time in as many games, taking his team and career-high to nine. Badji will look to become the first Rapids player to hit double digits in the goals column since Deshorn Brown did it in back-to-back campaigns (2013, 2014).
On the Bench:
GK Zac MacMath will be on the bench for the fourth straight game, and ninth in the last 10. In his third season with the club, MacMath has appeared in eight regular season matches, registering 21 saves and one shutout.
DEF Mike da Fonte was an unused sub in the 2-1 defeat at Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The 26-year-old defender has not seen the field since the 2-1 loss at Portland Timbers on August 23. Da Fonte surpassed the 1,000-minute mark in his first year in MLS, starting 12 appearances thus far in 2017.
D/M Jared Watts made his 70th appearance (60th start) during the 2-1 defeat at Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Watts, playing at midfield alongside Azira, registered his first-ever three shot game. At 1,478 minutes this season, Watts is 169 minutes shy from tying his career-high set in 2016.
MID Luis Gil remains two starts away from reaching 100 in his MLS career (89 with RSL, 6 with ORL, 3 with COL). Gil has not featured since the 3-0 defeat at LA Galaxy on September 2, falling out of the 18 during the last three regular season matches.
M/D Marlon Hairston will be available off the bench for the first time since the 2-1 loss at Portland Timbers on August 23, when he replaced Dillon Serna in the 57th minute. Hairston remains the only Rapids player to appear in every regular season match (29) so far in 2017, starting all but four.
M/F Shkëlzen Gashi returns to the 18 after sitting out the 2-1 defeat at Vancouver Whitecaps FC due to a hamstring injury. Gashi registered two shots in 88 minutes during the 0-0 draw at FC Dallas on August 12. In his second season in MLS, the Albanian DP has two goals and one assist in 15 appearances (12 starts).
FWD Alan Gordon has now come off the bench in 14 of the last 17 matches, including the final eight minutes of the 0-0 draw at FC Dallas on August 12. In 16 career appearances against the Texas club, Gordon has four goals and three assists in regular season play. This season, Gordon has played in 21 matches for the Rapids, with four of those coming from the start.
