Preview: Rapids host Columbus Crew for first time since 2019
COMMERCE CITY, Colorado — After scoring four goals in consecutive games for the first time in club history, the Colorado Rapids (8-9-6, 30 pts) take on the Columbus Crew (10-9-5, 35 pts) at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park. ) on Saturday, August 13 (7pm MT; Altitude Sports, Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM).
Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between Colorado and Columbus since the Rapids won 3-2 at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park on May 25, 2019. After beating Minnesota United FC 4-3 at home, the Rapids will attempt to play a game run of form where they have taken 10 points in their last five games, lost just once and scored 13 goals in that span.
Gyasi Zardes, who was named MLS Player of the Week after his hat-trick in the win against Minnesota, will play against his former club for the first time since joining Rapids in April. The 30-year-old forward spent over four seasons with the Crew, winning the 2020 MLS Cup with the side. Curiously, the Crew’s last goal against Colorado was scored by none other than Zardes in that encounter in May 2019. Zardes has now recorded five goals and one assist in his last six games for the Rapids.
Diego Rubio goes into Saturday’s game in form after scoring his 11th goal of the season in the win over the Loons. This brings the Chilean to his seventh career high for goals in MLS of the season and marks the seventh consecutive game in which the Chilean has scored a goal or assist. Rubio’s team-leading 11 goals and six assists in 2022 marks a new season high in his MLS career, surpassing his 11 goals and five assists in 2019. Rubio is now just one goal away from tying Chris Henderson for a fifth time. All-time goalscoring in Rapids history (31) and a crucial goal away from tying former Rapids midfielder Paul Bravo for most goals in club history (12).
The crew arrive in Colorado after beating New York City FC 3-2 at home last weekend. Columbus is 1-1-1 in their last three MLS games, scoring four goals and conceding four goals in that span. Lucas Zelarayán leads Columbus in both goals and assists in 2022 as he has hit the back of the net eight times and provided ten assists. The former Tigres UANL midfielder has averaged 0.53 assists per game this year, the highest rate in MLS at the moment. Goalkeeper Eloy Room has recorded eight shutouts this season, with the most recent shutout coming against Real Salt Lake on June 25. New signing Juan ‘Cucho’ Hernandez made an immediate impression for Columbus, scoring five goals in his first six appearances for the club since arriving in June.
Zardes won’t be the only player facing his former club on Saturday. Other familiar faces include Rapids defender Lalas Abubakar, who spent three seasons with Columbus after being drafted by the club in 2017; Rapids head coach Robin Fraser, who spent two years with the crew while guiding them to the Supporters’ Shield in 2004; Rapids defender Aboubacar Keita, a native of Columbus who won the 2020 MLS Cup and 2021 Campeones Cup with the team; and Crew midfielder Marlon Hairston, who was drafted by the Rapids in 2014 and spent five seasons in Colorado.