MLS Colorado Rapids

News and Notes from Week 9: Rapids Ramping up for New Western Conference Clash

Published on April 20, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


NICE TO MEET YOU

The Rapids (1-3-4, 7 pts) will welcome league-leading St. Louis CITY SC (6-2-0, 18 pts) this Saturday for the first-ever MLS matchup between the two sides. Colorado is currently on a four-game unbeaten streak, while St. Louis enter the game with a win and two losses in the month of April.

HISTORIC YARBROUGH

Rapids goalkeeper William Yarbrough is on the brink of setting a new record for most career shutouts in club history. In the Rapids' recent 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City, Yarbrough recorded his 29th clean sheet for the club, tying 2010 MLS Cup-winning goalkeeper Matt Pickens for the most shutouts in club history. Yarbrough recently surpassed Joe Cannon for the fourth-most appearances by a Rapids goalkeeper and his 35 wins in Burgundy are just one away from surpassing Clint Irwin for third-most wins by a goalkeeper in club history. The two-time Liga MX champion heads into this weekend's game ranked seventh in saves in MLS this season (25).

RAMPANT RUBIO

A week after being named to the league's Team of the Matchday bench for scoring the game-winning goal in the Rapids' road win over SKC, forward Diego Rubio found himself back on the score sheet. The Chilean international assisted in the Rapids' opening goal against Charlotte FC on Saturday, marking his 23rd as a member of the club. This feat ties Marcelo Balboa for eight-most assists in Rapids history. Recently, Rubio recorded his 100th regular-season appearance in Burgundy, becoming just the fourth forward in club history to reach that tally. Rubio has scored 36 goals as a member of the Rapids and is one goal away from tying John Spencer for fourth-most goals scored in club history. The 29-year-old forward enjoyed a career year in 2022 in which he equaled the Rapids' all-time, single-season scoring record (16 goals) and set a new record for most goal contributions in a season in club history (23; 16 goals, 7 assists).

LALAS LOOKING TO LOG 100

Rapids defender Lalas Abubakar is one start away from recording his 100th regular season start with the club. The Ghana native recently recorded his 100th regular-season appearance for Colorado during their match against Austin FC, becoming just the 10th defender in club history to achieve this feat; teammates Jack Price (123), Keegan Rosenberry (122) and Danny Wilson (114) are the only other active players on the roster with more appearances in Burgundy.

CLUB CONNECTIONS

St. Louis CITY SC assistant coach and director of coaching John Hackworth coached Rapids defender Sebastian Anderson at the U.S. U-17 level from 2017-2018

Rapids defender Aboubacar Keita and St. Louis CITY SC midfielder Indiana Vassilev were teammates in 2019 with the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team

St. Louis CITY SC defender Josh Yaro and Rapids defender Lalas Abubakar were both born in Kumasi, Ghana

Rapids midfielder Bryan Acosta and St. Louis CITY SC defender John Nelson both played for FC Dallas from 2019-2021

Check out the Colorado Rapids Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from April 20, 2023


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