As Rapids 2 rounds into the second half of its season, the Rapids first team loans continue to contribute to the efforts of the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro team. Headlining these appearances are young Rapids’ players Abraham Rodriguez, Darren Yapi and Dantouma “Yaya” Toure. Here's a look at how these players are making an impact in MLS NEXT Pro and at the MLS level:
Goalkeeper
Homegrown goalkeeper Abraham Rodriguez has been a staple of the Rapids 2 squad since the team’s home opener back in March. Since then, Rodriguez has logged eight starts with the inaugural season squad, serving as team captain in all eight appearances. Rodriguez’s big break came on Saturday, June 25, 2022, when he earned his first-ever MLS appearance, subbing onto the pitch for an injured William Yarbrough in the team’s match versus the Portland Timbers at Providence Park. The young keeper managed to make two saves over the course of 45 minutes on the pitch in addition to facing a penalty kick from Portland veteran Sebastián Blanco.
Striker
Colorado native Darren Yapi is the youngest first team loan to have played for Rapids 2 this season, logging 10 starts in the inaugural 2022 season so far. A standout among the team, Yapi currently leads Rapids 2 in goals scored. His most recent game-winning goal in the team’s match versus Timbers2 allowed the striker to expand his lead to four goals. Yapi also leads the team in shots taken with 25 and is the only player to have scored in back to back games this season.
Striker
Dantouma “Yaya” Toure has been a key contributor to Rapids 2 this season, leading the team’s offensive efforts with 10 shots on target. In Colorado’s recent match versus Timbers2, Toure scored his third goal of the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro season, making him the second highest goal scorer on the team alongside Yosuke Hanya. The striker also added his second assist this season in the team’s most recent win over STL CITY2, tying him with Max Alves and Jackson Travis for the most team assists. Toure recorded a minute of play time with the first team in their match against the Portland Timbers on June 25, earning his first MLS minutes of the 2022 season.
