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COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – The Colorado Rapids (6-7-4, 22 pts.) return after a week off for a battle with Austin FC (6-6-5, 23 pts.) on Saturday night. Kickoff at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park is set for 7:30 PM MT (Apple TV—MLS Season Pass, Altitude Sports Radio 950AM).
The Rapids return home after a much-needed break, having played seven games over the past month. The team will look to bounce back from a 2-1 loss in Vancouver on June 1.
This will be the first game of the year between the two sides as they battle for position in the Western Conference playoff standings around the midway point of the MLS regular season. Since Austin entered the league in 2021, Colorado has held a slight edge in the all-time series with a 3-2-2 record and a +2 goal differential through seven games.
These two teams will be eyeing a return to winning form after the previous three games without a win. Most recently for Colorado was a 2-1 loss against Vancouver, in which the Whitecaps stole all three points in the dying minutes. Midfielder Djordje Mihailovic scored the lone goal for the Rapids, making it 11 goals in his last 11 games (5g, 6a).
Austin is coming off a loss of their own, falling to Salt Lake by a final score of 5-1. Alexander Ring scored his side’s lone goal in stoppage time for his first of the season. The result continued the club’s poor run of form on the road this season, taking their record to 1-4-3 away from home.
Both teams had several players called up during the international window. For Colorado, two key starters were called up in midfielder Cole Bassett for the United States and defender Moïse Bombito for Canada. Additionally, goalkeeper Adam Beaudry earned a call-up to the United States Youth National Team for the final friendlies. On the opposing side, Austin had several players called up for international duty, including Osman Bukari (Ghana), Julio Cascante (Costa Rica) and Leo Väisänen (Finland).
Saturday’s game will also mark the return of some familiar faces to DICK’S Sporting Goods Park, including former Rapids players Diego Rubio, Gyasi Zardes and Preston Burpo. Rubio joined the Rapids ahead of the 2019 season and went on to make 114 regular season appearances for the club, including 97 starts, recording 38 goals and 26 assists. Zardes spent most of 2022 with the Rapids, carving his name into MLS history as he recorded his fifth season with double-digit goals. Burpo, who is now the goaltending coach for Austin, made 24 appearances between the sticks for Colorado during his time with the club (2008-09), recording four shutouts in that span.
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