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MLS Colorado Rapids

Rapids vs. LAFC: Preview

March 31, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - The Colorado Rapids (0-3-2, 2 pts) return home to host defending MLS Cup champions LAFC (3-0-1, 10 pts) at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park for Matchday 6 this Saturday, April 1 (7:30 p.m. MT; Apple TV - MLS Season Pass, Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM).

Colorado enters Saturday's game following a come-from-behind, 1-1 draw on the road against Austin FC over the weekend. Despite missing eight players due to injury or international duty, including club captain Jack Price (Achilles) and forwards Diego Rubio (Chile) and Darren Yapi (U.S. U-20), the Rapids displayed one of their best performances of the young season, outshooting Austin 17-8, while limiting Austin to their fewest shots ever at Q2 Stadium since Los Verdes joined MLS in 2021. Both Rubio and Yapi will be back and available for selection for Saturday.

Also notable from the Rapids' weekend trip to Texas: forward Kévin Cabral netted his first goal in Burgundy, an 85th-minute equalizer, since joining the club this past offseason from the LA Galaxy, while homegrown midfielder Cole Bassett surpassed 5,000 minutes with the Rapids (5,003), becoming the second homegrown in club history to accomplish this feat. Only midfielder Dillon Serna (5,302) has recorded more minutes. Additionally, Rapids defender Lalas Abubakar recorded his 100th regular-season appearance in Burgundy, becoming just the 10th defender in club history to achieve this feat. Teammates Jack Price (123), Keegan Rosenberry (119) and Danny Wilson (111) are the only other active players on the roster with more appearances in Burgundy.

The Rapids will look to replicate their defensive form from Saturday against one of the top offenses in the league. LAFC has scored nine goals through four games in the regular season, the fifth-highest scoring team in MLS. Gabonese forward Denis Bouanga leads the team with three goals scored while adding two assists for a team-high five goal contributions. In addition to Bouanga, the team has five other different goal scorers-only Columbus Crew and St. Louis CITY SC have a wider distribution of goal scorers, leading the league with eight different players.

Colorado has only lost to LAFC once at DSGP-their first encounter there in 2018- going on to record three straight home victories since in the series (3-1-0). In their most recent home match, the Rapids claimed three points after scoring a pair of goals and keeping a clean sheet against the Black & Gold. In that match, Rubio tallied his 40th MLS regular-season goal, while then-Rapids forward Gyasi Zardes scored his first goal in Burgundy. The match also saw the Rapids extend their club-record unbeaten run at home to 22 games at the time, which tied the sixth-longest in MLS history (the club would go on reach 23 games unbeaten at home, presently tied for the fourth-longest such streak in league history).

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