COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — The Colorado Rapids (3-3-3, 12pts) will kick off a slate of five games in 16 days as they travel to San Jose for a Saturday night clash against the Earthquakes (1-5-3, 6pts). Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. MT and the match will be broadcast on Altitude Sports and Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM.
“They have good attacking players, they have a good team, a good squad with a new coach, too,” said Rapids defender Auston Trusty ahead of the game. “They’ve got a lot to prove individually and also as a team, so I think they’ll be coming out to the game with a lot of fire and a lot of desire. We’re just going to have to match that energy. If we go out there with that energy and our mindset, I think we’ll be pretty good.”
Fraser’s side enter Saturday’s game following a 2-0 win at home over the Portland Timbers that snapped a five-game winless run. After seeing a Lalas Abubakar goal disallowed for an offside call in the 24th minute, Diego Rubio opened the scoring six minutes later off a direct free kick that he superbly drove over the wall past a hapless Aljaz Ivacic. Rubio’s strike was his fifth of the season, tying him for third overall in MLS. Unfortunately, the Chilean’s night came to an early end when he received a second booking in the 63rd minute. The Rapids not only held on with ten men, but also managed to add an insurance goal via Mark-Anthony Kaye, who finished off a counterattack with a left-footed, curling effort from the edge of the box. Goalkeeper William Yarbrough earned his fourth shutout of the season, bringing his career total with Colorado to 21 clean sheets, which is fifth-most in club history and only two behind former Rapids keeper Tim Howard.
San Jose is entering just their third match since the club parted ways with head coach Matias Almeyda and looking for their second win of the season. Interim manager Alex Covelo led the Quakes to a 4-3, come-from-behind win against the recently crowned Concacaf Champions League winners Seattle Sounders FC in his first match under helm, but then saw his side fall 3-0 to New York City FC last weekend. Forward Jeremy Ebobisse leads San Jose this season with five goals this season, which like the Rapids’ Rubio, is tied for third-most in MLS, while winger Cristian Espinoza heads has three goals and four assists on the year for the Silicon Valley club.
The Rapids are currently unbeaten over their last five games against the Quakes dating back to August 10, 2019 (3-0-2); Colorado has only failed to pick up points in two of their past dozen encounters with San Jose (6-2-4).
