Starting XI:
Midfielder Kellyn Acosta will make his 11th appearance for the Rapids today against San Jose. The USMNT midfielder has two goals and two assists in his first season with the Rapids. Over the international break, he scored a goal and assisted for the US in their matches against Colombia and Peru.
Midfielder Cole Bassett will make his second MLS start today and will be at the top of the Rapids diamond. Bassett made history last weekend as the youngest Rapids starter in club history at 17 years of age. The Littleton, CO native featured all 90 minutes of his first MLS start and was selected in the Team of the Week for his outstanding performance against Minnesota. Earlier this season, he became the youngest Rapids player to ever feature in an MLS match at 17 years and 42 days on September 8 against the Portland Timbers. In total, the Homegrown midfielder has featured in four games, one from the start, for a total of 133 minutes.
Midfielder Nana Boateng has topped the 1,000 minute mark on the year as he laces up to make his 13th start. The 24-year-old scored his first MLS goal on August 11 at home in the final kick of the game against the San Jose Earthquakes. Boateng has featured 18 times this season, and has recorded 1,056 minutes, one goal and one assist.
Defender Kortne Ford returns to the Starting XI after missing last weekend's match due to a knee injury. The talented young defender will feature for the 15th time,13 from the start. Ford is joined on the pitch today by fellow Homegrown's Dillon Serna and Cole Bassett.
Midfielder/Forward Shkëlzen Gashi will make his 45th career start for the Rapids. Gashi has been on the score-sheet twice this campaign and has an equal number of assists. The Zürich, Switzerland native will start for the eight time this season. He has made 12 substitute appearances in 2018.
Midfielder Marlon Hairston set up Yannick Boli last weekend with a perfect cross to open up the score line in the 61st minute. In his fifth season with the Rapids, Hairston has made 13 appearances, 11 from the start and has played 927 minutes. The 24-year-old led the team with five total crosses against the Loons. He was named to Team of the Week for his outstanding performance.
Goalkeeper Tim Howard logged his fifth clean sheet of the year in the 2-0 road win at Minnesota. Howard topped the 100 saves mark on September 22 against Columbus Crew SC. He currently has 113 saves, which ranks third overall this MLS season. Today's game marks Howard's 74th game, all from the start, since joining the club in 2016. The US men's national team legend has notched 693 MLS career saves. He has been named to the MLS Team of the Week three times this season (Week 4,18, and 28).
Midfielder Jack Price led the Rapids with 79 successful passes, seven long balls, three intercepted passes and 106 total touches last weekend. He has featured 30 times (2,660 minutes) in his first season with the Rapids, all from the start. This is the second most by any player. The Englishman has logged one goal and four assists including one game-winning goal (vs Toronto) and one game-winning assist (vs Philadelphia). Price was named to the MLS Team of the Week in Week 7.
Midfielder Dillon Serna will feature at the striker position for the first time this season. Serna has topped the 1,000 minute mark on the year for only the second time in his career with 1,091 minutes in 2018. He played 90 minutes last weekend against the Loons at the top of the Rapids diamond. Serna scored his first goal of the 2018 season with an 88th minute equalizer in the dying minutes against RSL on July 21. The Homegrown player has featured 19 times this season in his sixth campaign with the Rapids
Centerback Axel Sjöberg makes his third-consecutive Starting XI appearance at centerback today against the Earthquakes in what is his 80th MLS match. The towering 6’7” Swede has made 14 appearances for Colorado, 12 from the start, registering 1,060 minutes in his fourth season with the Rapids.
Wingback Deklan Wynne will make his 21st start for club in his first season in Colorado. The 23-year-old has racked up 1,871 minutes and logged an MLS Team of the Week selection in Week 5. He came on last weekend at halftime for a injured Edgar Castillo in the 2-0 win over Minnesota.
On the Bench:
Forward Giles Barnes has been in the Rapids Starting XI for the six times since joining on July 13 from Club León. The Jamaican international has been kept to only 523 minutes this season in ten appearances due to an ankle injury that kept him sidelined for a total of four matches.
Midfielder Johan Blomberg was an unused substitute last weekend at Minnesota. Blomberg has featured in 23 games (1,597 minutes), 20 from the start, in his first year with the Rapids. The Swede has recorded three assists in 2018.
Goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra is in the Rapids 18 tonight in place of Zac MacMath who is out with an illness today. Dykstra spent the entire USL season on loan with Charlotte Independence. He played a combined 1,980 minutes in 22 matches for Charlotte Independence, all from the start, and had four clean sheets this USL season.
Midfielder Sam Hamilton could get his first MLS minutes in this 2018 campaign if he is to sub on this afternoon. The 23-year-old from Evergreen, Colorado was signed to a contract on March 4, 2017, having been selected in the first round (15th overall) in the MLS Superdraft.
Forward Niki Jackson scored the Rapids' second goal last weekend in Minnesota. The Memphis, TN native has scored three goals in 401 minutes in his rookie season.
Midfielder Enzo Martinez will look to come off the bench for the seventh time this season. The Montevideo, Uruguay native has logged two assists in his first season with the Rapids.
Defender Sam Vines makes the Rapids 18 for the first time this MLS season. The Homegrown logged 2,303 minutes in 29 appearances and four assists during his first season in Charlotte. Vines could make his first MLS start today should he take the pitch.
