Starting Lineup:
GK Zac MacMath will be making his sixth appearance of the year. Since his arrival in Commerce City prior to the 2015 season, the 25-year-old keeper has posted a 12-8-5 record with eight shutouts. MacMath earned MLS Save of the Week honors in Weeks 8 and 9 with saves at Minnesota United FC and Orlando City SC.
DEF Eric Miller returns to right back for the first time since the 1-0 loss against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on May 5. Miller has started all 15 games he’s appeared in and has played every position along the back line.
DEF Axel Sjöberg has gone the distance in all five MLS matches he’s played in. Suffered a hamstring injury in the second game of the season, missing eight games along the way. Sjöberg has appeared in 50 regular season matches for the Rapids after being selected in the first round of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft.
DEF Kortne Ford has played all but seven minutes in his eight MLS appearances this season. Ford, who was recently named to the 2017 MLS Homegrown Game, became the first Rapids Homegrown player to start on their professional debut (4/9 @ SKC) and on their professional home debut (4/15 vs RSL).
DEF Mike da Fonte slides to left back after playing the last three matches at center back. Like Miller, da Fonte has played all positions in the back line. In his first season in MLS, da Fonte will be making his eighth start, and ninth consecutive appearance for the Rapids.
MID Marlon Hairston will be making his 16th start and 19th appearance of the season – both team-highs. Hairston is third in the team in goals (3) and tied for third in assists (3; Saeid). He has already surpassed his previous career-highs in minutes played (1,337) and games started (15).
MID Micheal Azira played every minute of the first 16 games, but had to miss the home match against Houston Dynamo due to yellow card accumulation. Azira is 26 minutes away from hitting the 4,000-mark for the Rapids. He will be making his 18th appearance of the year and leads the team in minutes played (1,471).
MID Mohammed Saeid will start his 13th game for the Rapids – and 16th of the season – after appearing in three contests for Minnesota United FC. Saeid surpassed the 1,000-minute mark with Colorado in the 3-1 loss against Seattle Sounders FC on July 4.
MID Dillon Serna is set to make his fifth consecutive start and 12th appearance of 2017. This will also be Serna’s 34th start and 64th appearance since signing as a Homegrown player prior to the 2013 season.
FWD Dominique Badji will make his 15th start and 18th appearance of the season. This will also be Badji’s 60th appearance in MLS. Badji currently leads the team in goals (5) and assists (5). Named to MLS Team of the Week (Week 18) for his three-assist performance against Houston Dynamo.
FWD Kevin Doyle is one minute shy from hitting the 5,000-minute mark in MLS. Doyle will be making his 16th start and 18th appearance, having only missed the second game of the season at New York Red Bulls on March 12. Doyle is second on the team in goals (4) and assists (4).
On the bench:
GK John Berner has yet to see the field this season. He will be back in the 18 for the first time since the 2-1 win against Columbus Crew SC on June 3.
DEF Dennis Castillo will be on the bench for the first time in four games after starting three in a row prior to the CONCACAF Gold Cup break. Went the distance in two of the three games at right back.
DEF Jared Watts is 142 minutes shy of reaching the 1,000 for the fourth consecutive season. He has started 10 of the 11 matches he has played in. Came on as a substitute in the 89th minute of the 3-1 win over the Houston Dynamo on July 1.
MID Nana Boateng saw action in the past three games after sitting out 10 games in a row after suffering a back injury in the 2-1 loss against Real Salt Lake on April 15. Boateng has started four of the six games he has featured in.
MID Dillon Powers surpassed the 10,000-minute mark in the 3-1 loss against the LA Galaxy on June 21. Has appeared in 14 games, starting 11 of those at midfield.
FWD Caleb Calvert has seen action in six consecutive games, coming off the bench in five of those. Calvert has already surpassed his previous highs in games, games started, and minutes. He has been in the starting lineup in three of his 11 appearances.
FWD Alan Gordon made his 250th regular season appearance in the 1-0 loss against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on May 5. Scored back-to-back game-winning goals against Columbus Crew SC (6/3) and against Portland Timbers (6/17). Gordon has appeared in 12 contests for the Rapids, with four of those coming from the start.
