MLS Colorado Rapids

Colorado Rapids Host Atlanta United FC in 2022 Home Opener

Published on March 4, 2022 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - After opening the regular season on the road for the third consecutive year, the Colorado Rapids return to DICK's Sporting Goods Park to host Atlanta United FC on Saturday, March 5. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. MT and the match will be broadcast live on Altitude Sports.

"They're a talented team that has a lot of players who are comfortable on the ball. They have good dribblers, they have good crossers, and obviously, Josef Martinez is just a sniper," said Rapids head coach Robin Fraser ahead of the match. "Certainly, they're a very good team and they appear to be very well coached. They move in unison and will be a very difficult opponent."

Saturday will mark the first encounter between Colorado and Atlanta since 2019 and the first at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park since Sept. 15, 2018. The two sides have only faced each other three times since United joined the league in 2017, with Atlanta coming away with the win on all three occasions. Their most recent encounter, a 1-0 loss at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on April 27, 2019, preceded the dismissal of then-Rapids head coach Anthony Hudson and marked a turning point in the club's fortunes. Since their last match against Atlanta, the Rapids have gone on to record the fifth-most points per game in all of MLS (1.65 PPG).

The Rapids enter Saturday's game following a disappointing 3-0 loss to LAFC on the road last weekend. Carlos Vela recorded his third career MLS hat trick as Colorado lost a season-opening match for the first time since 2018. Meanwhile, United is coming off a 3-1 win in its season opener against Sporting Kansas City via goals from Luiz Araújo, Dom Dwyer and Caleb Wiley.

"Atlanta is going to pose another tough test," said Rapids midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye. "You look at their roster and what they've been able to do within this club during the five, six years since they've been in the league. No game is easy so we know the challenge ahead and we're excited to have another opportunity to try and pick up some points and play our football."

Colorado has a 9-2-4 (W-L-D) all-time record in home openers at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park, including 4-1-3 stretch since 2014. The Rapids have outscored their opponents 28 to 16 since their first home opener at DSGP in 2007.

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