Starting XI:
William Yarbrough, Keegan Rosenberry, Lalas Abubakar, Danny Wilson, Lucas Esteves, Jack Price (C), Collen Warner, Cole Bassett, Braian Galván, Andre Shinyashiki, Michael Barrios
Bench: Clint Irwin, Drew Moor, Steven Beitashour, Nico Mezquida, Jonathan Lewis, Dominique Badji
Player Availability Report:
Out – Jeremy Kelly (injury)
Out – Younes Namli (injury)
Out – Diego Rubio (injury)
Out – Auston Trusty (injury)
Out – Kellyn Acosta (International duty)
Out – Mark-Anthony Kaye (International duty)
Notes:
RAPID TURNAROUND
This week marked two years since Robin Fraser’s first game as head coach of the Rapids. Fraser has led Colorado to a 24-12-9 (W-L-D) record, as well as the club’s first playoff appearance in four years in his first full season in charge. Two Rapids Homegrowns – Dantouma “Yaya” Toure and Oliver Larraz – made their MLS debuts under Fraser, and he has overseen the development of several top prospects, including Cole Bassett and Sam Vines, who was recently transferred to the Belgian first division.
Through 45 regular season games under Fraser, the Rapids have won 24 games, scored 77 goals and picked up 81 points – all the most by any Rapids head coach through his first 45 games in club history. Colorado has been among the best in MLS on the road under Fraser at 12-8-3 (W-L-D); the Rapids’ 12 road wins are the most in the league and their 1.7 points per road game are the second-most in that time.
AFTERSHOCK
The Rapids are unbeaten in their last four meetings against San Jose but have never won at PayPal Park. Colorado’s last victory at San Jose was a 2-1 win in August 2011 at Buck Shaw Stadium.
- Cole Bassett has two goals and two assists in four career meetings against San Jose.
- Jonathan Lewis’ next appearance will be the 80th of his MLS career. The 24-year-old has one goal and one assist in four career matches against San Jose.
- Nico Mezquida has four goals and one assist in 13 career matches against the Quakes. His four goals the most against any MLS opponent.
- Diego Rubio has two goals and two assists in six career matches against the Quakes.
- Steven Beitashour started his MLS career with San Jose, playing 87 games for the Quakes from 2010 to 2013, adding two goals and 16 assists.
- Dominique Badji has two goals and two assists in nine career matches against San Jose.
"HIT THE GROUND RUNNING"
Lucas Esteves makes his first start after making his Rapids debut in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Sporting KC. The 21-year-old Brazilian played 22 minutes after coming on in place of F Braian Galván. After the match, Robin Fraser said, “I thought Lucas was good. It has to be extremely different to be in a different league, different players around him. You still have an opponent, you still have a ball, but it has to be very difficult to make that big an adjustment. He jumped right in and really hit the ground running. I thought he showed a lot of composure going forward and a real ability to read and understand and defend going in the opposite direction. I thought it was a really good start for him.”
WILL.HE.IS
William Yarbrough is second in MLS with a 76.74 save percentage among goalkeepers with at least 10 games played. The Aguascalientes, Mexico, native is also second in the league with eight clean sheets. He is fifth in MLS with 67 saves this season, and his 26 saves in his last four games are the most in MLS in that time.
NOTES & MILESTONES
- Lucas Esteves makes his first start since joining the Rapids in August. The 21-year-old Brazilian made his Rapids debut on Saturday against Sporting KC.
- Michael Barrios makes his 200th career MLS appearance.
- Lalas Abubakar makes his 80th career MLS start.
- A Rapids win would be the 40th of HC Robin Fraser's MLS head coaching career and his 25th with the Rapids.
- Colorado is 5-3-2 on the road this season, the fourth-best road record in MLS. San Jose, meanwhile, is 3-4-3 at home, fourth-worst in the league.
- San Jose has allowed 332 total shots this season, the most in MLS.
- Colorado’s 9-1-1 record when scoring the first goal is third-best in MLS.
- The Rapids come into the match on a six-game unbeaten run, while San Jose hasn’t lost in 10 matches, the longest active streak in MLS.
- Colorado has hit the woodwork 12 times this season, third-most in MLS. M Cole Bassett is tied for the league lead with six, including four in his last four games.
- The Quakes have the second-highest shooting accuracy (ex. Blocks) in MLS. San Jose has taken 203 shots, 100 of them on target.
