Colorado Rapids

News & Notes from Week 26: Rapids prepared to take on Houston Dynamo at home

History with Houston

Head coach Robin Fraser is undefeated against the Dynamo since being appointed the head coach of the Rapids on August 25, 2019, posting a record of 4-0-2 (W-L-D) in that span.  

Both Diego Rubio and Michael Barrios have scored six times against the Dynamo. For both, it’s the most they’ve scored against any opponent in regular season play in their MLS careers. 

Rubio has scored three game-winning goals against Houston, tying him with Teal Bunbury (NSH) and Alvaro Saborio (DCU) for the most game-winning goals scored against the Dynamo. Rubio (4) is one goal away from surpassing Dominique Badji (4) for most goals scored against the Dynamo by a member of the Rapids and is one game-winning goal away from surpassing Dominique Badji (2) for the most game-winning goals scored against the Dynamo by a member of the Rapids. 

Barrios has delivered 10 assists against the Dynamo, the most by any player all-time in MLS and is tied with Gianluca Busio (SKC) for the most game-winning assists recorded against Houston (3). The Colombian winger is one game-winning goal away from tying Rubio and Badji for most game-winning goals scored against the Dynamo by a member of the Rapids. 

Goalkeeper William Yarbrough has a save percentage of 84.4% against the Dynamo, which is the highest amongst active goalkeepers in MLS (minimum of 15 saves against HOU). The two-time Liga MX champion has a goals against average of 0.83 against the Dynamo, tying him with Andre Blake (PHI) for the current best average against Houston among active MLS goalkeepers (minimum 400 minutes played against HOU). Yarbrough has recorded four wins, registered 27 saves and posted a save percentage of 84.4% against the Dynamo while in goal, which are all the current best against Houston in Rapids history.

Midfielder Sam Nicholson scored his first MLS career goal against the Dynamo in stoppage time on September 30, 2017, when he was a member of Minnesota United FC. 

Defender Lalas Abubakar scored his first goal in Burgundy on September 9, 2020, scoring in stoppage time to help the Rapids claim a point in a 1-1 draw against the Dynamo. 

Defender Steven Beitashour recorded his first MLS career assist on June 4, 2011, as a member of the San Jose Earthquakes. Beitashour delivered a ball into the box that Steven Lenhart headed into the back of the net to open the scoring in their 2-0 win against the Houston Dynamo.

Rampant Rubio

Rubio, who made his 100th MLS start on Wednesday, has scored 12 goals this season, his new single-season career high for goals scored in the league. His 12 goals and six assists lead the team this year and have surpassed his previous single-season best of 11 goals and five assists (2019). Rubio is currently tied with Chris Henderson for the fifth-most goals scored all-time in Rapids history (31) and is one game-winning goal away from tying former Rapids midfielder Paul Bravo for most in club history (12).

Player
Goals
Conor Casey
50
Paul Bravo
39
Omar Cummings
37
John Spencer
37
Chris Henderson
31
Diego Rubio
31
Previewing #COLvHOU: Robin Fraser - August 19, 2022

Six in Seven

Forward Gyasi Zardes scored in the Rapids’ 2-1 loss on the road to Vancouver midweek, marking his sixth goal from his past seven appearances. The U.S. international has now recorded 95 regular-season goals in his MLS career.

Mile-High Momentum

Colorado has lost only three of its last 25 regular-season matches against Houston dating back to August 2009 (13-3-9). The Rapids have lost only one of 12 home meetings with Houston in that time (7-1-4), a 4-1 loss dating back to March 2019. The Dynamo have only scored five goals across their other 11 visits to Colorado.

Colorado Rapids record: 15-10-11

Home games: 9-4-5 (24 GF, 16 GA)

Road games: 6-6-6 (27 GF, 29 GA)

The Rapids' last seven results against Houston
The Rapids' last seven results against Houston
Date & Venue
Result
08/17/2019 at Houston
COL 2 at HOU 2 T
09/09/2020 at Colorado
COL 1 vs HOU 1 T
11/08/2020 at Houston
COL 2 at HOU 1 W
05/15/2021 at Colorado
COL 3 vs HOU 1 W
08/14/2021 at Houston
COL 3 at HOU 1 W
10/31/2021 at Houston
COL 1 at HOU 0 W
03/19/2022 at Houston
COL 1 at HOU 1 T

Club Connections

Rapids midfielder Collen Warner delivered an assist and made 24 appearances for the Dynamo in 2016.

Dynamo assistant coach Chris Martinez was born in Parker, Colo., and graduated from Ponderosa High School. In 1993, Martinez signed with the Colorado Foxes where he won a championship. Martinez was a member of the Rapids from 1997-2001, where he delivered nine assists and recorded 8,337 minutes over 108 appearances.

Dynamo goalkeeping coach Zach Thornton made one appearance for the Rapids during his lone season with the club in 2007.

Dynamo director of performance Paul Caffrey was an assistant/fitness coach for the Rapids from 2012-2014.

Dynamo midfielder Griffin Dorsey played three years with U.S. Soccer Development Academy side Colorado Rush SC. Dorsey also played in the PDL for Colorado Rapids U-23 from 2017-2018, scoring nine goals over 17 appearances.