Preview | Rapids seek fourth consecutive home shutout in midweek matchup with LAFC

The Colorado Rapids (8-10-1, 25 pts., 8th West) welcome LAFC (10-6-4, 34 pts., 3rd West)  to Colorado for a Western Conference clash on Wednesday, August 19. Kickoff at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park is set for 7:30 p.m. MT, with coverage available on Apple TV, Altitude Sports Radio, ColoradoRapids.com, and the Colorado Rapids app. 

Colorado has the opportunity to continue their recent form at home over the last few weeks, with the club posting three consecutive clean sheet victories in Colorado. This run of strong defensive play at home is not out of the ordinary for the Rapids, having posted a 9-2-0 record at DSGP this season across all competitions. Over those 11 home matches, the club has posted six clean sheets. 

The Rapids have the momentum heading into this mid-week match, after posting a 2-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City this past Saturday. Colorado got on the board thanks to a header from defender Reggie Cannon, earning him his first Team of the Matchday appearance of the season. The delivery on the goal came from debutant Youssef Maziz, who made his MLS and club debut after being subbed on in the 56th minute. Just nine minutes later, the midfielder delivered his first assist in Burgundy to Cannon.  

Rounding out the scoring for the Rapids was forward Rafael Navarro, who netted his 10th goal of the season and the 38th of his career with Colorado in MLS play. The goal moved him into a tie with Diego Rubio for the third-most MLS regular season goals in club history. Navarro is now only one goal away from tying Omar Cummings and Paul Bravo for the second-most on the all-time list. 

LAFC enters Wednesday with a different feeling, as they lost their most recent matchup just four days prior. The club fell at home to San Diego FC 1-0 in their first MLS match since their three Leagues Cup Phase One matches. In the annual tournament with Liga MX, LAFC went undefeated in their three matches with a 1-0-2 record but were unable to advance to the next phase, ending their campaign early. 

These two sides have faced off already this season, with Colorado earning a point at BMO Stadium following a 0-0 draw. The draw marked the first positive result that the Rapids have ever earned at BMO Stadium in MLS play.