Starting XI:
William Yarbrough, Braian Galván, Keegan Rosenberry, Danny Wilson, Auston Trusty, Lucas Esteves, Collen Warner, Jack Price (C), Younes Namli, Jonathan Lewis, Diego Rubio
Bench: Clint Irwin, Drew Moor, Lalas Abubakar, Dominique Badji, Andre Shinyashiki, Michael Barrios, Nicolás Mezquida, Cole Bassett, Steven Beitashour
Player Availability Report:
Out - Kellyn Acosta (International duty)
Out - Mark-Anthony Kaye (International duty)
Notes:
BROOMS OUT
The Rapids can complete a three-game season sweep of the Loons with a win on Sunday. It would be Colorado’s second season sweep over Minnesota, after the Rapids took both meetings in 2018. The Rapids won the first match, 3-2, and the second, 2-0, in both seasons.
There have been five, three-game sweeps in MLS this season, while eight other teams can still sweep at least one three-game series in 2021. Colorado can also take nine points from Houston with a win on Oct. 31.
The Rapids have completed a three-plus-game season sweep three times in their history; they went 3-0-0 against Columbus in 1996 and Sporting KC in 2016, and 4-0-0 against Kansas City in 1999 (though three wins were in shootouts). Colorado has swept 16 series 2-0-0 all-time, most recently in 2019 against LA Galaxy.
SCOTTISH SALMON AND THE SET PIECE KING
The Rapids scored on two set pieces during their come-from-behind victory in the first meeting against Minnesota on May 8. M Kellyn Acosta rifled his volley into the bottom corner to kickstart the comeback in the 57th minute before D Danny Wilson went “Scottish Salmon” for the 82nd-minute winner off a free kick.
Wilson’s goal gave M Jack Price his second set piece assist of the season; he leads MLS with seven on the year. Price leads MLS with 21 assists off set plays since 2019. The captain is also tied for third in MLS with 11 assists, tying a Rapids career high set in 2019.
Colorado has scored two goals off corner kicks in its last four games. The Rapids have allowed just four goals off set pieces this season, tied for the fewest in MLS (with Minnesota, among others), and just two from indirect free kicks or corners, the fewest in MLS.
FOR THE BOOKS
Colorado’s six road wins in 2021 are tied for the most in club history in the post-shootout era; the Rapids won six road matches in 2011. The club record is nine road wins from 1999, though two of those wins were in shootouts.
HOME STRETCH
With seven games remaining in the regular season, the Rapids are in third in the Western Conference, six points behind first-place Seattle and nine points ahead of fifth-place Real Salt Lake for a top-four seed and home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Of those seven games, five are against teams currently in a playoff spot, including conference leaders New England and Seattle, as well as Portland, RSL and Minnesota. Colorado’s five games remaining against teams currently in a playoff spot are tied for the most in MLS (Vancouver).
CAN'T HEAR YOU
- F Michael Barrios has two goals and seven assists in 11 career matches against Minnesota.
- F Diego Rubio has three goals and three assists in eight career matches against Minnesota.
- M Jack Price has two assists in five career matches against Minnesota.
- F Andre Shinyashiki has two goals in five career matches against Minnesota.
- D Danny Wilson has one goal and one assist in six career matches against Minnesota.
- F Dominique Badji has one goal in six career matches against Minnesota.
- M Cole Bassett has one goal in six career matches against Minnesota.
- M Collen Warner spent two seasons with Minnesota. The Denver native played 42 matches for the Loons in 2017 and 2018.
NOTES & MILESTONES
- D Drew Moor’s next appearance will be his 400th. Moor will become the third active player to reach the milestone and the eighth in MLS history, including goalkeepers. Moor is two appearances away from 200 with Colorado.
- F Michael Barrios’ next start will be the 180th of his MLS career.
- M Cole Bassett’s next start will be the 50th of his MLS career. Bassett will be the second Rapids Academy product to reach the milestone with Colorado (D Shane O’Neill).
- F Jonathan Lewis’ next assist will be the 10th of his MLS career. His next goal will be his sixth of 2021, setting a new career high. He has scored five goals in each of his three seasons with Colorado.
