COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — The Colorado Rapids (2-4-6, 12 pts) will head on the road to face Atlanta United FC (5-4-3, 18 pts) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Matchday 13 this Wednesday, May 17 (5:30 p.m. MT; Apple TV – MLS Season Pass, Altitude Sports Radio AM 950).
The Rapids are coming into Wednesday’s match, their fourth-ever against Atlanta, after suffering their first loss in ten games through all competitions on Saturday night. Colorado fell 2-1 to the Philadelphia Union at home despite taking a first-half lead through a Connor Ronan penalty kick. His goal Saturday was the first of his MLS career, while his four assists currently lead the team in that category. Colorado has not won in Atlanta in their two visits thus far, although the club is currently riding a six-game unbeaten streak on the road.
Atlanta host the Rapids after falling 3-1 at home to Charlotte FC over the weekend, their fourth consecutive defeat across all competitions. The Five Stripes bowed out of the 2023 U.S. Open Cup with a 2-1 loss to Memphis 901 FC on April 26, only one of two MLS teams to lose to a lower division in the third round of the tournament. Of the four regular-season losses Atlanta has this year, three of them came in its last three matches.
Statistically, Atlanta has been a tale of two halves of the pitch. The club is currently tied second in the league for most goals scored with 21, only behind St. Louis CITY SC. However, Atlanta is also second in MLS for most goals allowed with 21. 2022 FIFA World Cup winner Thiago Almada and Greek forward Giorgos Giakoumakis lead the team with five goals each, while Almada is also tied for the most assists in MLS with seven. The club will be without defender Andrew Gutman who will miss the match through suspension following his red card against Charlotte. Defender Caleb Wiley will also be unavailable Wednesday after being called up for the U.S. U-20 Men’s Youth National Team ahead of the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina.
Rapids goalkeeper William Yarbrough will look to continue adding to the record he recently set for most shutouts in club history. He recorded his 30th career clean sheet against Vancouver Whitecaps FC last month, surpassing the previous record set by 2010 MLS Cup-winning goalkeeper Matt Pickens. With the recent win against the LA Galaxy, the 34-year-old goalkeeper tallied his 36th win with the Rapids, which surpassed Clint Irwin for third-most wins by a goalkeeper in club history. Yarbrough heads into the midweek match against Atlanta currently seventh in MLS in total saves this season with 33.
Rapids forwards Braian Galván and Darren Yapi will be unavailable for Wednesday’s match. Like Atlanta’s Gutman, Galván is suspended after receiving a red card over the weekend, while Yapi has joined Wiley and the rest of the U.S. U-20 Men’s Youth National Team ahead of their opening match at the U-20 World Cup this weekend.
