The Colorado Rapids’ season will formally kick off on Sunday towards the Seattle Sounders, however the membership could have to make do with a couple of of their most vital gamers for the match.

In keeping with a late replace to the membership’s harm report on Saturday evening, star ahead Diego Rubio will miss the match with a right knee injury. A membership spokesperson confirmed with Burgundy Wave that Rubio’s harm is not related to his ACL or MCL, and that the membership will replace within the coming days.

The Chilean striker’s absence shall be an enormous loss to the Rapids, who relied closely on Rubio for targets and assists through the 2022 season. Rubio tied the membership’s single-season purpose scoring file of 16 final 12 months, and broke the crew file for whole purpose contributions in a season.

Rubio isn’t the one Speedy who’ll miss the match. New goalkeeper signing Marko Ilić was additionally given an “out” designation on the report, however attributable to procedural issues slightly than harm. The Serbian shot-stopper has but to obtain his P-1 visa, and won’t arrive to the U.S. in time for the sport.

Colorado’s availability report additionally listed Captain Jack Worth as questionable with a again harm. Worth featured for the Rapids within the membership’s 2-2 draw towards Orlando Metropolis SC, however didn’t function in scrimmages towards Miami FC and the Philadelphia Union. Ahead Jonathan Lewis didn’t take part in any of the Rapids’ six preseason video games, and is questionable with a left ankle harm.

Rubio’s absence opens the door for homegrown Darren Yapi to make his second-straight begin with the membership. Yapi is the one different pure middle ahead on Colorado’s roster, and made his first-ever MLS begin on Determination Day towards Austin FC final season. The teen scored three targets through the Rapids’ three scrimmages in Mexico throughout preseason, and Fraser beforehand indicated that the younger ahead was set for extra MLS minutes in 2023.

Whereas William Yarbrough must be set to start out in purpose as an alternative of Ilić, potential absences from Worth and Lewis might complicate Robin Fraser’s lineup choice on Sunday. Colorado has traditionally been cautious concerning accidents to key starters—gamers listed as questionable are likely to not begin video games. Sunday’s weather report additionally requires snow, so it’s possible the Rapids gained’t danger any key gamers coping with accidents. Apparently, neither Rubio nor Worth performed throughout Colorado’s final preseason pleasant in Orlando.

Bryan Acosta crammed in for Worth throughout a lot of the 2022 season, so the Honduran Worldwide is a protected wager to start out if Worth can’t go on Sunday. Canadian Youth Worldwide Ralph Priso, who joined the Rapids throughout final summer season as a part of the deal that despatched Mark-Anthony Kaye to Toronto FC, could possibly be a darkish horse candidate for minutes.

Whichever central pivot Fraser picks will possible be joined by homegrown midfielder Cole Bassett and newcomer Connor Ronan within the midfield. Bassett’s a identified amount for Fraser, and Ronan obtained constant recreation time throughout preseason.

Colorado’s personnel in protection and assault will rely upon whether or not Fraser opts for a 5 or four-man again line. The membership’s preseason scrimmages had been all held behind closed doorways, and the crew’s formation wasn’t clear from the personnel that reportedly participated within the match.

Danish Designated Participant Andreas Maxsø might be a lock to debut at middle again no matter the remainder of the again line, however his companions might change relying on the crew’s form. Lalas Abubakar and Danny Wilson are simple picks, however Fraser has proven a current tendency to play Keegan Rosenberry as an outdoor middle again in a defensive trio. It’s potential that the supervisor opts for a versatile group of Abubakar, Maxsø, and Rosenberry as middle backs—Maxsø and Wilson are comparable defensive archetypes, so beginning each could possibly be redundant. Such a setup would permit Fraser to start out Sam Nicholson at proper wing again—one thing he was eager on through the last stretch of 2022. The Scot’s flexibility on the precise would nonetheless permit him to maneuver into the assault if wanted.

New defensive signing Alex Gersbach appears to be the most-likely selection at left again, but it surely’s price highlighting that the Australian Worldwide joined after fellow newcomers Ronan and Maxsø. Gersbach performed fewer preseason minutes in consequence, so it’s potential Fraser opts for the dependable Steven Beitashour or the recovered-and-rearing Braian Galván to the place. Galván featured semi-regularly at left wing again after Colorado bought homegrown defender Sam Vines to Royal Antwerp in 2021, and the Argentine might very properly show to be a greater model of Lucas Esteves on the place.

Designated Participant Kévin Cabral appears set to make his aggressive debut for the Rapids. The French winger was the crew’s first huge low season splash and will theoretically play any spot on the entrance line. A 3-man midfield with a five-man again line would imply two up-front—a tactic Fraser has utilized in defensive video games earlier than. Yapi might be the transfer for Fraser to pair with Cabral in that state of affairs, as Calvin Harris and Michael Barrios didn’t make an enormous splash in preseason.

Colorado’s lineup towards the Union of their final warm-up recreation might have been a 5-3-2, 3-5-2, 4-3-3, or all three. Fraser has traditionally favored versatile setups like this on the street. The flexibility to regulate on-the-fly to reply to quickly altering circumstances and recreation states might make all of the distinction on Sunday.

The somewhat-good information for the Rapids is that the Sounders may also be coping with accidents for the sport. Seattle’s report formally listed Alaska native Obed Vargas as out with a quad pressure and star ahead Raúl Ruidíaz as questionable, however Rave Green TV reported late on Saturday that Ruidíaz could be unavailable for the sport.

Brazilian ahead Héber ought to slot in if Ruidíaz can’t go, and the Sounders’ lineup ought to largely write itself from there. The Washington-based membership’s star-studded starters ought to nonetheless embody recognizable names to Rapids followers like U.S. Internationals Cristian Roldán and Jordan Morris, together with ex-Actual Salt Lake midfielder Albert Rusnák. Rusnák has recorded 11 purpose contributions in 16 league video games towards Colorado, and fellow Seattle midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro has recorded 10 in 10 in all competitions towards the Burgundy Boys.

Whereas the Sounders are winless of their final 5 aggressive video games (together with an early exit to Egypt’s Al-Ahly within the Membership World Cup), the membership has nonetheless earned factors of their final 4 at house. That run extends to their collection towards the Rapids, because the Rave Inexperienced have gained 15 of 18 whole house matches towards Colorado. According to a release from MLS Communications, that house profitable proportion of 83% is the best amongst league fixtures performed a minimum of 10 occasions.

House: Seattle Sounders FC (0-0-0, W-1st, L5: LDLDL)
Away: Colorado Rapids (0-0-0, W-1st, L5: WWLWD)

Competitors: Main League Soccer
Date: February 26, 2022
Time: 6:00 PM MST
Venue: Lumen Subject
Location: Seattle, WA
Officers: Alex Chilowicz (REF), Ian Anderson (AR1), Chris Elliot (AR2), Fotis Bazakos (4TH), Edvin Jurisevic (VAR), Tom Supple (AVAR).

TV: Fox Sports activities 1 (English), Apple TV Free (English/Spanish).
Commentary: Nate Bukaty and Tony Meola (Fox Sports activities 1); Mark Rogondino and Heath Pearce (Apple TV-English); and Pablo Ramirez and Carlos Ruiz (Apple TV-Spanish).

Seattle Sounders FC: Stefan Frei, Jackson Ragen, Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Nouhou Tolo, Alex Roldán, Cristian Roldán, João Paulo, Albert Rusnák, Nicolas Lodeiro, Jordan Morris, Héber.

Colorado Rapids: William Yarbrough, Andreas Maxsø, Lalas Abubakar, Keegan Rosenberry, Alex Gersbach, Sam Nicholson, Bryan Acosta, Cole Bassett, Connor Ronan, Kévin Cabral, Darren Yapi.

Joseph Samelson: 1-0 Seattle. The climate’s going to make this one a slog, and the Rapids lack the firepower to pile on the targets with Rubio sidelined. I anticipate the Sounders to largely dominate the run of play regardless of the low scoreline, and I might be stunned to see Colorado take any factors house from this one.

Seattle Sounders FC (as of 2023-02-23):

• SUSPENDED—none.
• SUSPENDED AFTER NEXT YELLOW—none.
• OUT—Obed Vargas (Proper Quad Pressure).
• QUESTIONABLE—Raúl Ruidíaz (Proper Hamstring Pressure).

Colorado Rapids Availability Report (as of 2023-02-25)

• SUSPENDED—none.
• SUSPENDED AFTER NEXT YELLOW—none.
• OUT—Marko Ilić (P-1 Visa), Diego Rubio (R knee), and Dantouma “Yaya” Toure (ACL).
• QUESTIONABLE—Aboubacar Keita (R knee), Jonathan Lewis (L ankle), and Jack Worth (Again).