The 2021 Colorado Rapids season was the club's twenty-sixth season of existence and their twenty-sixth consecutive season in

Major League Soccer Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men's professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport's highest level in the United States. The league comprises 29 teams—26 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada ...

(MLS), the top flight of American soccer.

Background

Colorado finished the 2020 season 5th in the Western Conference table, and 10th overall in MLS. Jonathan Lewis and

Cole Bassett Cole John Bassett (born July 28, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids. Club career Born in Littleton, Colorado, Bassett joined the Colorado Rapids academy in ...

lead Colorado with 5 goals across all competitions. Outside of MLS play, the Rapids played in the MLS is Back Tournament, getting knocked out in the group stage. They were also scheduled to compete in the

U.S. Open Cup The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, commonly known as the U.S. Open Cup (USOC), is a Single-elimination tournament, knockout cup competition in men's Soccer in the United States, soccer in the United States of America. It is the oldest ongoing nati ...

before its cancellation due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

Roster

Out on loan

Competitions

Preseason

Friendlies

Major League Soccer

Standings

= Western Conference

=Overall table

Results summary

Results by round

Match results

MLS Cup Playoffs

The Rapids clinched the regular season Western Conference title on the last day of the season, November 7. They lost to the Portland Timbers in the Western Conference Semifinals on November 25.

U.S. Open Cup

It was announced on March 29 that the opening round of the tournament would not be held, and that the top eight MLS teams based on point per game from the first three weeks of the season would participate in the tournament. U.S. Soccer's Open Cup Committee announced it was not holding the 2021 U.S. Open Cup in the spring, but did not rule out holding the tournament later in the year. At the conclusion of the first three weeks of the season, the Rapids had gained 1.33 PPG, but that was not enough to qualify for the tournament. Eventually, it was announced that the U.S. Open Cup would not be held at all in 2021.

Qualification

Statistics

Appearances and goals

''Numbers after plus–sign (+) denote appearances as a substitute.'' , - ! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center, Players transferred/loaned out during the season

Top scorers

{, class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align: center;" , - !width=30, Rank !width=30, Position !width=30, Number !width=175, Name !width=75, !width=75, !width=75, Total , - , rowspan=1, 1 , FW , , 12 , ,

Michael Barrios Michael David Barrios Puerta (born 21 April 1991) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids. Club career Barrios spent four seasons with Colombian Categoría Primera A side Uniaut ...

, 8 , , 0 , , 8 , - , rowspan=1, 2 , FW , , 7 , , Jonathan Lewis , 7 , , 0 , , 7 , - , rowspan=3, 3 , FW , , 8 , ,

Dominique Badji Dominique Badji (born October 16, 1992) is a Senegalese professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Forward (association football), forward for Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati. Career Early life Born in Dakar, Senegal, Bad ...

, 5 , , 0 , , 5 , - , FW , , 11 , ,

Diego Rubio Diego Iván Rubio Köstner (born 15 May 1993) is a Chilean footballer who plays as a striker for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids. Club career Early career Rubio began his football career with Universidad Católica. However, when h ...

, 5 , , 0 , , 5 , - , MF , , 26 , ,

, 5 , , 0 , , 5 , - , rowspan=1, 6 , FW , , 9 , ,

Andre Shinyashiki Andre Bava Shinyashiki (born 11 June 1997) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Azerbaijan Premier League club Neftçi PFK. He was named the recipient of the 2019 MLS Rookie of the Year award as well as the 2018 men ...

, 4 , , 0 , , 4 , - , rowspan=4, 7 , DF , , 2 , ,

Keegan Rosenberry Keegan Rosenberry (born December 11, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a right-back for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids. Early carrer He played at Penn Fusion soccer club. Rosenberry played his four years o ...

, 2 , , 0 , , 2 , - , DF , , 4 , , Danny Wilson , 2 , , 0 , , 2 , - , DF , , 6 , ,

Lalas Abubakar Alhassan "Lalas" Abubakar (born December 25, 1994) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids. Early life Born in Kumasi, Abubakar was raised in the Ghanaian capital of Accra an ...

, 2 , , 0 , , 2 , - , FW , , 52 , , Braian Galván , 2 , , 0 , , 2 , - , rowspan=7, 11 , DF , , 5 , ,

Auston Trusty Auston Levi-Jesaiah Trusty (born August 12, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for club Birmingham City, on loan from club Arsenal, and the United States national team. He previously played in the USL Ch ...

, 1 , , 0 , , 1 , - , DF , , 13 , ,

Sam Vines Samuel Marqus Lloyd Vines (born May 31, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a left-back for Belgian Pro League club Royal Antwerp and the United States national team. Club career Colorado Rapids Whilst with the ...

, 1 , , 0 , , 1 , - , MF , , 20 , ,

Nicolás Mezquida Gabriel Nicolás Mezquida Sero (born 21 January 1992) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Greek Super League club Volos. Club career Mezquida began his career in the youth academy of C.A. Peñarol in 2006, befor ...

, 1 , , 0 , , 1 , - , MF , , 21 , ,

Younes Namli Younes Namli ( ar, يونس نملي; born 20 June 1994) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Dutch club PEC Zwolle. Career After spending three seasons in the Danish 1st Division with AB, Namli signed a two-and-a-hal ...

, 1 , , 0 , , 1 , - , MF , , 23 , ,

Kellyn Acosta Kellyn Kai Perry-Acosta (born July 24, 1995) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC and the United States national team. Early life Acosta was raised in Plano, Texas. ...

, 1 , , 0 , , 1 , - , MF , , 32 , ,

Collen Warner Collen Warner (born June 24, 1988) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder. He last played for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids. College and amateur Warner attended Denver East High School, played club socc ...

, 1 , , 0 , , 1 , - , DF , , 66 , , Lucas Esteves , 1 , , 0 , , 1 , - !colspan="4", Total !! 50 !! 0 !! 50 , -

Top assists

, 5 , , 0 , , 5 , - , rowspan=1, 3 , FW , , 11 , ,

, 4 , , 0 , , 4 , - , rowspan=2, 4 , MF , , 26 , ,

, 3 , , 0 , , 3 , - , FW , , 52 , , Braian Galván , 3 , , 0 , , 3 , - , rowspan=2, 6 , FW , , 9 , ,

, 2 , , 0 , , 2 , - , MF , , 23 , ,

, 2 , , 0 , , 2 , - , rowspan=7, 8 , FW , , 7 , , Jonathan Lewis , 1 , , 0 , , 1 , - , FW , , 10 , ,

Nicolas Benezet Nicolas Benezet (born 24 February 1991) is a French professional Association football, footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for club Nîmes Olympique, Nîmes. Club career France Born in Montpellier, Benezet played in the youth academ ...

, 1 , , 0 , , 1 , - , DF , , 13 , ,

, 1 , , 0 , , 1 , - , MF , , 14 , ,

Mark-Anthony Kaye Mark-Anthony Kaye (born December 2, 1994) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club New England Revolution and the Canada national team. Early life Born in Toronto, Ontario to Jamaican p ...

, 1 , , 0 , , 1 , - , MF , , 20 , ,

, 1 , , 0 , , 1 , - , MF , , 21 , ,

, 1 , , 0 , , 1 , - , DF , , 33 , , Steven Beitashour , 1 , , 0 , , 1 , - !colspan="4", Total !! 38 !! 0 !! 38 , -

Clean sheets

{, class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align: center;" , - !width=30, Rank !width=30, Number !width=175, Name !width=75, !width=75, !width=75, Total , - , 1 , 22 , ,

William Yarbrough William Paul Yarbrough Story (born March 20, 1989) is a professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids. Born in Mexico, he played for the United States national team. Personal life Yarbroug ...

, 13 , , 0 , , 13 , - !colspan="3", Total !! 13 !! 0 !! 13

Disciplinary record

{, class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" , - , rowspan="2" !width=15, Rank , rowspan="2" !width=15, , rowspan="2" !width=15, , rowspan="2" !width=120, Player , colspan="3", MLS , colspan="3", MLS Cup Playoffs , colspan="3", Total , - !width=34; background:#fe9;, !width=34; background:#fe9;, !width=34; background:#ff8888;, !width=34; background:#fe9;, !width=34; background:#fe9;, !width=34; background:#ff8888;, !width=34; background:#fe9;, !width=34; background:#fe9;, !width=34; background:#ff8888;, , - , rowspan=2, 1 , 4 , , DF , , Danny Wilson , 8 , , 0 , , 1 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 8 , , 0 , , 1 , - , 19 , , MF , , Jack Price , 9 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 9 , , 0 , , 0 , - , rowspan=2, 3 , 32 , , MF , ,

, 7 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 7 , , 0 , , 0 , - , 11 , , FW , ,

, 7 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 7 , , 0 , , 0 , - , rowspan=1, 5 , 6 , , DF , ,

, 6 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 6 , , 0 , , 0 , - , rowspan=3, 6 , 5 , , DF , ,

, 4 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 4 , , 0 , , 0 , - , 9 , , FW , ,

, 4 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 4 , , 0 , , 0 , - , 52 , , FW , , Braian Galván , 4 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 4 , , 0 , , 0 , - , rowspan=2, 9 , 12 , , FW , ,

, 3 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 3 , , 0 , , 0 , - , 26 , , MF , ,

, 3 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 3 , , 0 , , 0 , - , rowspan=6, 11 , 66 , , DF , , Lucas Esteves , 1 , , 0 , , 1 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 1 , , 0 , , 1 , - , 2 , , DF , ,

, 2 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 2 , , 0 , , 0 , - , 14 , , MF , ,

, 2 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 2 , , 0 , , 0 , - , 20 , , MF , ,

, 2 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 2 , , 0 , , 0 , - , 21 , , MF , ,

, 2 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 2 , , 0 , , 0 , - , 23 , , MF , ,

, 2 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 2 , , 0 , , 0 , - , rowspan=6, 17 , 7 , , FW , , Jonathan Lewis , 1 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 1 , , 0 , , 0 , - , 8 , , FW , ,

, 1 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 1 , , 0 , , 0 , - , 13 , , DF , ,

, 1 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 1 , , 0 , , 0 , - , 22 , , GK , ,

, 1 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 1 , , 0 , , 0 , - , 33 , , DF , , Steven Beitashour , 1 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 1 , , 0 , , 0 , - , 37 , , FW , ,

Dantouma Toure Dantouma "Yaya" Toure (born June 12, 2004) is a soccer player who plays as a winger for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer. Born in Guinea, he has represented the United States at youth level. A resident of Trenton, New Jersey, Toure played ...

, 1 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 0 , , 1 , , 0 , , 0 , - !colspan="4", Total !! 72 !! 0 !! 2 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 72 !! 0 !! 2

Transfers

For transfers in, dates listed are when the Rapids officially signed the players to the roster. For transfers out, dates are listed when the Rapids officially removed the players from the roster, not when they signed with another club. If a player later signed with a different club, his new club will be noted, but the date listed remains when he was officially removed from the roster.

In

{, class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left" , - !Pos. !Player !Transferred from !Fee/Notes !Date !Source , - , FW ,

FC Dallas FC Dallas is an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The club competes as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference in Major League Soccer (MLS). The franchise be ...

, FC Dallas receives an international roster spot and the 15th pick in the

2021 MLS SuperDraft The 2021 MLS SuperDraft was the 22nd edition of the SuperDraft conducted by Major League Soccer. The SuperDraft is held every January prior to the start of the MLS season. The 2020 SuperDraft was the first held exclusively via conference call and ...

. The Rapids also receive the 21st pick in the SuperDraft , January 13, 2021 , , - , GK ,

, León , Three-year contract with a club option , February 2, 2021 , , - , FW , Oliver Larraz , Colorado Rapids Academy , Two-year Homegrown Player contract with a club option for two additional years. , March 3, 2021 , , - , FW , Darren Yapi ,

Colorado Springs Switchbacks Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC is a professional soccer team based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Founded in 2014, the team is a member of the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer pyramid. The franchise is owned by Martin E ...

, Five-year Homegrown Player contract with a club option for one additional year. , March 3, 2021 , , - , DF , Michael Edwards ,

VfL Wolfsburg II VfL Wolfsburg II was a German association football team from the city of Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony. It is the reserve team of VfL Wolfsburg. The team's greatest success has been two league championships in the tier four Regionalliga Nord in 2013� ...

, Two-year Homegrown Player contract with a club option for two additional years.

D.C. United D.C. United is a professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. that competes in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer, the top tier of American soccer. Domestically, the club has won four MLS Cups (league championships), four Suppo ...

will receive $75,000 in general allocation money for Edwards' homegrown priority. , March 4, 2021 , , - , FW ,

, New York Red Bulls II , Four-year contract with a club option for an additional two years.

New York Red Bulls The New York Red Bulls are an American professional soccer club based in the New York metropolitan area. The Red Bulls compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The club was established in October 1994 and be ...

will receive $50,000 in general allocation money for Toure's homegrown priority. , March 4, 2021 , , - , MF ,

Los Angeles FC Los Angeles Football Club, commonly referred to as LAFC, is an American professional Association football team based in Los Angeles. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member club of the league's Western Conference. The club ...

, Los Angeles FC receives $1 million in general allocation money and a 2022 international roster spot. Colorado also receives a 2022 first-round Superdraft pick. , July 27, 2021 , , - , FW ,

Nashville SC Nashville Soccer Club is a Major League Soccer team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The team began play in the league in 2020 as a continuation of the USL club of the same name and plays its home matches at Geodis Park. It is principally owned ...

, Nashville SC receive $50,000 in general allocation money. , July 29, 2021 ,

Loans in

{, class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left" , - !Pos. !Player !Parent club !Length/Notes !Beginning !End !Source , - , DF , Lucas Esteves ,

Palmeiras Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras (), commonly known as Palmeiras, is a Brazilian professional football club based in the city of São Paulo, in the district of Perdizes. Palmeiras is one of the most popular clubs in South America, with around ...

, One-year loan with an option to buy , August 6, 2021 , June 2022 ,

SuperDraft

Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. Only those who are signed to a contract will be listed as transfers in. Only trades involving draft picks and executed after the start of the

will be listed in the notes. {, class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:95%;" , - ! style="background:; width:125px;", Date ! style="background:; width:170px;", Player ! style="background:; width:50px;", Position ! style="background:; width:223px;", Previous Club ! style="background:; width:470px;", Notes ! style="background:; width:30px;", Ref , - , January 21, 2020 ,

Philip Mayaka Philip Mayaka (born 30 November 2000) is a Kenyan footballer who plays as a midfielder for Crown Legacy in the MLS Next Pro. Career Youth Mayaka was scouted playing football in his local Nairobi by the general manager of the Montverde Aca ...

, MF , Clemson , Colorado traded the 6th overall pick in the 2021 SuperDraft and $200,000 in GAM to the

Houston Dynamo Houston Dynamo FC (formerly officially, but still commonly, called the Houston Dynamo) is an American professional soccer club based in Houston. The Dynamo compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference. Establi ...

in exchange for the 3rd overall pick, used to select Mayaka. ,

Out

{, class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left" , - !Pos. !Player !Transferred to !Fee/Notes !Date !Source , - , FW ,

Niki Jackson Niki Jackson (born August 25, 1995) is an American soccer player who plays as a forward for San Diego Loyal in the USL Championship. He grew up in Collierville, Tennessee and Scottsdale, Arizona before attending Cactus Shadows High School and Gra ...

San Diego Loyal San Diego Loyal Soccer Club is an American professional Association football, soccer team based in San Diego, California. The team was founded by Warren Smith and Landon Donovan. San Diego Loyal made its debut in 2020 as an expansion team in the ...

, Contract Option declined , December 14, 2020 , , - , DF , Abdul Rwatubyaye ,

KF Shkupi KF Shkupi ( mk, ФК Шкупи, sq, Klubi Futbollistik Shkupi) is a professional football club based in Čair, Skopje, North Macedonia. The club plays in the Macedonian First Football League, which is the top tier of football in the country. ...

, Contract Option declined , December 14, 2020 , , - , DF ,

Deklan Wynne Deklan Terrence Wynne (born 20 March 1995) is a New Zealand footballer who plays as a left back for the New Zealand national team. He was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and emigrated to New Zealand in January 2010, aged 14. The eligibility ...

, Phoenix Rising , Contract Option declined , December 14, 2020 , , - , DF ,

, Royal Antwerp , Transfer Fee not disclosed , August 5, 2021 , , - , FW ,

Seattle Sounders FC Seattle Sounders Football Club is an American professional men's soccer club based in Seattle. The Sounders compete as a member of the Western Conference of Major League Soccer (MLS). The club was established on November 13, 2007, and began ...

, Colorado receives $50,000 in general allocation money , August 5, 2021 ,

Loans out

{, class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left" , - !Pos. !Player !Loanee club !Length/Notes !Beginning !End !Source , - , MF , ,

, ,

, , Duration of USL Championship season , , March 24, 2021 , , November 6, 2021 , , , - , GK , ,

Andre Rawls Andre Rawls (born December 20, 1991) is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper. Career College Rawls spent his entire college career at Saint Mary's College, including a red-shirted year in 2010. Rawls was named the WCC goalkeeper ...

, , Phoenix Rising FC , , Duration of USL Championship season , , March 24, 2021 , , November 6, 2021 , , , - , DF , , Jeremy Kelly , , Phoenix Rising FC , , Recalled by the Rapids , , March 24, 2021 , , July 1, 2021 , , , - , DF , , Sebastian Anderson , ,

, , Duration of USL Championship season , , March 24, 2021 , , November 6, 2021 , , , - , GK , , Abraham Rodriguez , ,

, , Duration of USL Championship season , , March 24, 2021 , , November 6, 2021 , , , - , FW , , Matt Hundley , ,

, , Duration of USL Championship season , , March 24, 2021 , , November 6, 2021 , , , - , DF , , Michael Edwards , ,

, , Duration of USL Championship season , , March 24, 2021 , , November 6, 2021 , ,

References

{{2021 in American soccer Colorado Rapids seasons Colorado Rapids Colorado Rapids Colorado Rapids