2018 Colorado Rapids season

The 2018 Colorado Rapids season will be the Colorado Rapids' 23rd season of existence, their 23rd season in Major League Soccer and their 23rd season in the top-tier of American soccer.

Colorado Rapids
2018 season
OwnerStan Kroenke
Head coachAnthony Hudson
Major League SoccerConference: 11th
Overall: 21st
MLS Cup PlayoffsDid not qualify
U.S. Open CupFourth Round
CONCACAF Champions LeagueRound of 16
Rocky Mountain CupLost
Top goalscorerLeague: Dominique Badji (7)
All: Dominique Badji (7)
Highest home attendance17,837
Lowest home attendance10,790
Average home league attendance15,333

Due to a reconfiguration in the CONCACAF Champions League format, the Rapids will begin play in the Champions League this year for their successes during the 2016 season. Colorado opens their slate of competitive fixtures on February 20 in the Champions League Round of 16 with a two-legged series against Canadian champions, Toronto FC in the round of 16. On March 3, the club will have their MLS opener against Chicago Fire. In either May or June, the Rapids will begin play in the U.S. Open Cup.

Background

The 2017 season saw a sharp downturn in the Rapids fortunes. Colorado finished the 2017 season second-bottom of the Western Conference table, with the third-worst overall record in Major League Soccer. Colorado finished 10th in the Western Conference and 20th in the overall table. The team scored a league-low 31 goals in 34 matches and conceded 51 goals. Dominique Badji lead the team with 7 goals across all competitions.

Outside of MLS play, the Rapids played in the 2017 edition of the U.S. Open Cup, where they lost in the fifth round to FC Dallas. The Rapids failed to qualify for the 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs. At the end of the campaign, four-year head coach, Pablo Mastroeni was relieved of his duties.

Club

Roster

As of October 28, 2018.[1]
    No. Name Nat Position Since Date of birth (Age) Signed from Games Goals
    Goalkeepers
    1 Tim Howard GK 2016 (1979-03-06) March 6, 1979 Everton 75 0
    18 Zac MacMath GK 2016 (1991-08-07) August 7, 1991 Philadelphia Union 31 0
    50 Andrew Dykstra GK 2018 (1986-02-01) February 1, 1986 Sporting Kansas City 0 0
    Defenders
    2 Edgar Castillo LB 2018 (1986-10-08) October 8, 1986 Monterrey (loan) 28 3
    4 Danny Wilson CB 2018 (1991-12-27) December 27, 1991 Rangers F.C. 23 0
    5 Tommy Smith CB 2018 (1990-03-31) March 31, 1990 Ipswich Town 33 4
    13 Sam Vines CB 2018 (1999-05-31) May 31, 1999 Charlotte Independence 1 0
    23 Kip Colvey CB 2018 (1994-03-15) March 15, 1994 San Jose Earthquakes 3 0
    24 Kortne Ford CB 2017 (1996-01-26) January 26, 1996 Denver Pioneers 35 1
    27 Deklan Wynne CB 2018 (1995-03-20) March 20, 1995 Whitecaps FC 2 25 0
    44 Axel Sjöberg CB 2015 (1991-03-08) March 8, 1991 Marquette Golden Eagles 82 3
    Midfielders
    8 Johan Blomberg MF 2018 (1987-06-14) June 14, 1987 AIK 25 0
    10 Kellyn Acosta MF 2018 (1995-07-24) July 24, 1995 FC Dallas 13 2
    15 Sam Hamilton MF 2017 (1995-07-27) July 27, 1995 Denver Pioneers 3 0
    17 Dillon Serna MF 2013 (1994-03-25) March 25, 1994 Akron Zips 91 9
    19 Jack Price MF 2018 (1992-12-19) December 19, 1992 Wolverhampton Wanderers 31 1
    20 Ricardo Perez MF 2017 (1995-05-30) May 30, 1995 Creighton Bluejays 0 0
    21 Bismark Adjei-Boateng MF 2017 (1994-05-10) May 10, 1994 Strømsgodset 38 1
    26 Cole Bassett MF 2018 (2001-07-28) July 28, 2001 Colorado Rapids U–23 6 1
    28 Sam Nicholson MF 2018 (1995-01-20) January 20, 1995 Minnesota United 19 2
    90 Enzo Martinez MF 2018 (1990-09-29) September 29, 1990 Charlotte Independence 23 0
    94 Marlon Hairston MF 2014 (1994-03-23) March 23, 1994 Louisville Cardinals 95 7
    Forwards
    7 Giles Barnes FW 2018 (1988-08-05) August 5, 1988 León 12 0
    9 Yannick Boli FW 2018 (1988-01-13) January 13, 1988 Dalian Yifang 17 2
    11 Shkëlzen Gashi FW 2016 (1988-07-15) July 15, 1988 Basel 64 13
    12 Niki Jackson FW 2018 (1995-08-25) August 25, 1995 Grand Canyon Antelopes 15 3
    29 Caleb Calvert FW 2014 (1996-10-22) October 22, 1996 Chivas USA 21 1
    32 Jack McBean FW 2018 (1994-12-15) December 15, 1994 LA Galaxy 22 2

    Team management

    Position Staff
    General Manager Pádraig Smith
    Asst. General Manager Fran Taylor
    Personnel Director Ena Patel
    Scouting Director Mitch Murray
    Scouting Coordinator Chris Zitterbart
    Head Coach Anthony Hudson
    Asst. Coach Conor Casey
    Goalkeeper Coach Chris Sharpe
    Head of Sports Science Chad Kolarcik
    Head Athletic Trainer Keith Garnett
    Asst. Athletic Trainer Sean O'Neill
    Strength and Conditioning Coach Miguel Motolongo
    Physical Therapist Andy Free
    Team Chiropractor Nicholas Studholme
    Chief Medical Officer Dr. Wayne Gersoff
    Team Physician Dr. Mary-Catherine Husney

    Last updated: February 9, 2018
    Source: Colorado Rapids

    Transfers

    In

    No. Pos. Player Transferred from Fee Date Source
    7FW Giles Barnes Club LeónUndisclosedJuly 13, 2018[2]

    Draft picks

    Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster.

    2018 Colorado Rapids SuperDraft Picks
    RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollegeStatus
    225 Alan Winn FW North Carolina Declined contract, signed with Nashville SC
    27 Frantzdy Pierrot MF Coastal Carolina Invited to training camp
    350 Thomas Olsen GK San Diego Signed to roster
    472 Brian Iloski MF UCLA Invited to training camp, signed with Legia Warsaw
    73 Niki Jackson FW Grand Canyon Signed to roster

    Out

    No. Pos. Player Transferred to Fee Date Source
    12GK John Berner Phoenix Rising FCOption declinedNovember 27, 2017[3]
    23DF Bobby BurlingFreeNovember 27, 2017[3]
    26DF Dennis Castillo Pérez ZeledónOption declinedNovember 27, 2017[3]
    45MF Joshua Gatt Detroit CityOption declinedNovember 27, 2017[3]
    27MF Luis Gil QuerétaroLoan expired, purchase declinedNovember 27, 2017[3]
    16FW Alan Gordon Chicago FireOption declinedNovember 27, 2017[3]
    90MF Mohammed Saeid LyngbyOption declinedNovember 27, 2017[3]
    5DF Mekeil Williams Richmond KickersOption declinedNovember 27, 2017[3]

    Loan in

    No. Pos. Player Loaned from Start End Source
    2DF Edgar Castillo MonterreyJanuary 1, 2018December 31, 2018[4]
    10F Joe Mason Wolverhampton WanderersFebruary 20, 2018July 12, 2018[5]

    Loan out

    Pos. Player Loaned to Start End Source
    DF Mike da Fonte Phoenix Rising FCFebruary 10, 2018[6]
    GK Andrew Dykstra Charlotte IndependenceMarch 8, 2018[7]
    DF Sam Vines Charlotte IndependenceMarch 8, 2018[7]
    MF Ricardo Perez Charlotte IndependenceMarch 8, 2018[7]
    FW Caleb Calvert Charlotte IndependenceMarch 8, 2018[7]
    DF Kip Colvey Colorado Springs SwitchbacksJuly 13, 2018[8]

    Competitions

    Friendlies

    January 31 Preseason Colorado Rapids 1–2 Columbus Crew Casa Grande, Arizona
    11:00 a.m. MST Ford  26' Report Zardes  2'
    Argudo  58'
    Stadium: Grande Sports Academy Soccer Complex
    February 9 Preseason Sporting Arizona 0–9 Colorado Rapids Tucson, Arizona
    11:00 a.m. MST Report Castillo  2'
    McBean  25'
    Calvert  63'
    Aigner  67'
    Jackson  78', 120'
    Blomberg  102'
    Perez  106'
    Stadium: Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium
    Note: 120 minute match of two 60-minute periods
    September 1 Midseason Tulsa Roughnecks FC 2-3 Colorado Rapids Memphis, Tennessee
    6:00 p.m. MST
    Report
    Stadium: AutoZone Park
    Attendance: 8,957

    Major League Soccer

    March 10, 2018 1 New England Revolution 2–1 Colorado Rapids Foxborough, Massachusetts
    11:30 MST
    Report
    Stadium: Gillette Stadium
    Attendance: 13,305
    Referee: Armando Vilarreal
    March 31, 2018 3 Colorado Rapids 3–0 Philadelphia Union Commerce City, Colorado
    19:00 MDT
    Report Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
    Attendance: 10,790
    Referee: Robert Sibiga
    April 7, 2018 4 FC Dallas 1–1 Colorado Rapids Frisco, Texas
    18:00 MDT
    Report
    Stadium: Toyota Stadium
    Attendance: 13,147
    Referee: Rubiel Vasquez
    April 14, 2018 5 Colorado Rapids 2–0 Toronto FC Commerce City, Colorado
    13:00 MDT
    Report Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
    Attendance: 11,232
    Referee: Baldomero Toledo
    April 21, 2018 6 Real Salt Lake 3–0 Colorado Rapids Sandy, Utah
    19:00 MDT
    Report Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
    Attendance: 17,461
    Referee: Joseph Dickerson
    April 29, 2018 7 Colorado Rapids 1–2 Orlando City SC Commerce City, Colorado
    14:00 MDT
    Report
    Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
    Attendance: 15,702
    Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero
    May 5, 2018 8 Sporting Kansas City 1–0 Colorado Rapids Kansas City, Kansas
    18:30 MDT
    Report Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
    Attendance: 20,553
    Referee: Armando Villarreal
    May 12, 2018 9 Colorado Rapids 1–2 New York Red Bulls Commerce City, Colorado
    19:00 MDT
    Report
    Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
    Attendance: 15,691
    Referee: Ismail Elfath
    May 19, 2018 10 NYCFC 4–0 Colorado Rapids Bronx, New York
    11:00 MDT
    Report Stadium: Yankee Stadium
    Attendance: 21,494
    Referee: David Gantar
    May 26, 2018 11 Colorado Rapids 2–3 Portland Timbers Commerce City, Colorado
    19:00 MDT
    Report
    Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
    Attendance: 17,424
    Referee: Sorin Stoica
    June 9, 2018 13 Houston Dynamo 2–0 Colorado Rapids Houston, Texas
    19:00 MDT
    Report Stadium: BBVA Compass Stadium
    Attendance: 16,058
    Referee: Drew Fischer
    June 13, 2018 14 Colorado Rapids 2–2 Chicago Fire Commerce City, Colorado
    19:00 MDT
    Report
    Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
    Attendance: 16,068
    Referee: José Carlos Rivero
    July 4, 2018 17 Colorado Rapids 1–2 Seattle Sounders FC Commerce City, Colorado
    19:00 MDT
    Report
    Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
    Attendance: 16,374
    Referee: Fotis Bazakos
    July 14, 2018 19 Colorado Rapids 0–0 Houston Dynamo Commerce City, Colorado
    19:00 MDT Report Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
    Attendance: 14,327
    Referee: Ted Unkel
    July 21, 2018 20 Real Salt Lake 2–2 Colorado Rapids Sandy, Utah
    20:00 MDT
    Report
    Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
    Attendance: 19,207
    July 28, 2018 21 D.C. United 2–1 Colorado Rapids Washington, D.C.
    17:00 MDT
    Report
    Stadium: Audi Field
    Attendance: 18,931
    August 15, 2018 26 LA Galaxy 2–2 Colorado Rapids Carson, California
    15:30 MDT
    Report
    Stadium: StubHub Center
    Attendance: 16,231
    August 25, 2018 25 (RMC) Colorado Rapids 0–6 Real Salt Lake Commerce City, Colorado
    19:00 MDT Report
    Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
    Attendance: 16,669
    September 8, 2018 27 Portland Timbers 2–0 Colorado Rapids Portland, Oregon
    20:30 MDT
    Report Stadium: Providence Park
    Attendance: 21,144
    September 22, 2018 29 Columbus Crew SC 2–1 Colorado Rapids Columbus, Ohio
    17:30 MDT
    Report
    Stadium: Mapfre Stadium
    Attendance: 19,121
    September 29, 2018 30 Seattle Sounders FC 4–0 Colorado Rapids Seattle, Washington
    14:00 MDT
    Report Stadium: CenturyLink Stadium
    Attendance: 40,042
    Referee: Nima Saghafi
    October 6, 2018 31 Colorado Rapids 0–3 Los Angeles FC Commerce City, Colorado
    19:00 MDT Report Zimmerman  15' Diomande  42', 48' Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
    Attendance: 15,369
    Referee: Armando Villarreal
    October 13, 2018 32 Minnesota United FC 0–2 Colorado Rapids Minneapolis, Minnesota
    12:00 MDT Report
    Stadium: TCF Bank Stadium
    Attendance: 19,733
    Referee: Guido Gonzales, Jr
    October 21, 2018 33 San Jose Earthquakes 0–0 Colorado Rapids San Jose, California
    15:00 MDT Report Stadium: Avaya Stadium
    Attendance: 17,474
    Referee: Tim Ford

    U.S. Open Cup

    June 6, 2018 Fourth Nashville SC 2–0 Colorado Rapids Nashville, Tennessee
    17:30 Azira  39' (o.g.)
    Mensah  78'
    Report Stadium: Vanderbilt Stadium
    Referee: Kevin Broadley

    CONCACAF Champions League

    Round of 16

    February 27 Second leg Toronto FC 0–0
    (2–0 agg.)
    Colorado Rapids Toronto, Canada
    18:00 MST Report Stadium: BMO Field
    Attendance: 23,383
    Referee: Luis Santander (Mexico)

    Statistics

    Top scorers

    Place Position Number Name MLS U.S. Open Cup Total
    1 FW 14 Dominique Badji 7 0 7
    2 DF 5 Tommy Smith 4 0 4
    3 DF 2 Edgar Castillo 3 0 3
    FW 12 Niki Jackson 3 0 3
    FW 10 Joe Mason 3 0 3
    6 MF 11 Shkëlzen Gashi 2 0 2
    MF 10 Kellyn Acosta 2 0 2
    MF 28 Sam Nicholson 2 0 2
    FW 32 Jack McBean 2 0 2
    FW 9 Yannick Boli 2 0 2
    11 MF 19 Jack Price 1 0 1
    MF 21 Nana Boateng 1 0 1
    MF 17 Dillon Serna 1 0 1
    MF 26 Cole Bassett 1 0 1
    Total 34 0 34

    As of 28 October 2018.

    References

    1. "First team roster". Colorado Rapids. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
    2. "Colorado Rapids sign forward Giles Barnes from Club León". coloradorapids.com. Colorado Rapids. July 13, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
    3. "Colorado Rapids announce roster moves ahead of 2018 campaign". coloradorapids.com. Colorado Rapids. November 27, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
    4. "Colorado Rapids acquire USMNT international Edgar Castillo on loan". coloradorapids.com. Colorado Rapids. January 9, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
    5. "Colorado Rapids acquire striker Joe Mason on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers FC". coloradorapids.com. Colorado Rapids. February 20, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
    6. "Colorado Rapids loan defender Mike da Fonte to Phoenix Rising FC". coloradorapids.com. Colorado Rapids. February 10, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
    7. "Colorado Rapids loan Vines, Calvert, Perez and Dykstra to Charlotte Independence". coloradorapids.com. Colorado Rapids. March 8, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
    8. "Colorado Rapids loan defender Kip Colvey to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC". coloradorapids.com. Colorado Rapids. July 13, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
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