Here are 10 things of note that we learned from the Colorado Rapids' 2-2 tie with Minnesota United FC at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday.
1. The Rapids remain unbeaten in 19 regular season games at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (12-0-7). They are now joint-sixth on the all-time list, alongside FC Dallas. Houston Dynamo holds the longest undefeated streak at home, with 30.
2. Their last loss at home in the regular season was at the boot of Didier Drogba, as Montreal Impact won 1-0 on October 10, 2015.
3. This was the first time in 20 regular season home games that the Rapids had conceded multiple goals. They had previously given up just nine goals in 19 games. The last team to score more than once at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park were Real Salt Lake (October 4, 2015).
4. Homegrown signing Kortne Ford was in the 18 for Saturday’s match. This was the first time that Ford had made the gameday roster, and came a week after fellow-Homegrown Ricardo Perez sat on the bench at Red Bull Arena.
5.Bismark ‘Nana’ Adjei-Boateng made his MLS debut, replacing skipper Sam Cronin for the final eight minutes. He is the second Ghanaian to ever play for the Rapids. Junior Agogo made 32 appearances for the Rapids, between 2000 and 2001.
6.Bobby Burling and Mekeil Williams both made their first appearance of the season on Saturday. They last featured in a regular season game on October 16, 2016 and the 1-0 loss at Portland Timbers.
7.Eric Miller was absent from Saturday’s lineup due to a hamstring injury. He had started the previous 15 regular season games, a career-high, and had not missed a game since July 16, when ruled out through suspension.
8.Dominique Badji has now netted twice in the first three games, equaling the total return for his rookie year (2015), when he started nine of his 15 appearances. His target this season is to hit double digits for the first time in MLS. Badji bagged six goals in 2016, as well as four assists.
9. Midfielder Dillon Serna came off the bench for a third successive game, playing the final 29 minutes. This is the most playing time he has had at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park since starting and going just over 61 minutes on May 28, 2016 in a 1-1 tie at home to Philadelphia Union.
10. Kevin Molino equalized for the Loons from the penalty spot on Saturday, beating Tim Howard. Including the 2016 season, Howard has now faced eight of the last nine penalties given against the Rapids.
