COLORADO NEWS

Sebastian Blanco scores twice, Timbers beat Minnesota 3-1

Sebastian Blanco scored the go-ahead goal and adding an insurance scorer and the Portland Timbers eliminated Minnesota United from the MLS playoffs with a 3-1 opening-round victory...

NOVEMBER 22, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Colorado's Cole Bassett chasing MLS Cup before desired move to Europe ' MLSSoccer.com Cole Bassett could’ve packed his bags and jetted off to one of Portugal’s biggest clubs over the summer.

NOVEMBER 9, 2021 • MLSSOCCER.COM

William Yarbrough - Concedes two goals against LAFC Yarbrough made two saves but conceded two goals in Sunday's 5-2 victory against LAFC.

Impact Yarbrough was beaten by strikes from Cristian Arango and Brian Rodriguez on Sunday, but those were mere consolations for his opponents as Colorado won handily and clinched the No.1 seed in the Western Conference. Yarbrough finishes the regular season with 13 clean sheets and only 32 goals conceded in 33 MLS games, a far better mark than last year.

NOVEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Michael Barrios - Records assist in win Barrios subbed into Sunday's match against LAFC in the 56th minute, and he took a shot and assisted a goal in the 5-2 victory.

Impact Barrios grabbed his fifth assist of the season in his side's comprehensive win over LAFC, which clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. He has started in just three of Colorado's last nine games, but he has still featured off the bench in most of them, and will likely continue to do so in the playoffs.

NOVEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Diego Rubio - Records assist in win Rubio took two shots (one on target) and assisted a goal in Sunday's 5-2 victory against LAFC. He also made a clearance, an interception and won two of three tackles in the match.

Impact Rubio grabbed his first assist since July in Sunday's blowout victory that clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference for Colorado. After making only two starts in 14 games between late July and early October, he has started five of the Rapids' last seven games since, and he figures to continue as an important part of the XI into the playoffs.

NOVEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Kellyn Acosta - Records assist in win Acosta took two shots and assisted a goal in Sunday's 5-2 victory against LAFC. He also made three clearances, an interception and won four of four tackles in the match.

Impact Acosta returned from an undisclosed injury on Sunday and turned in arguably his best performance since the Gold Cup as his side handily defeated LAFC and clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. He will hope to return from the international window in this form still and ready for the playoffs.

NOVEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Steven Beitashour - Records assist in win Baitashour assisted a goal and made five clearances in Sunday's 5-2 victory against LAFC.

Impact Beitashour grabbed his first assist of the season in Sunday's blowout win, setting up Dominique Badji's late strike with a cross. He made just six starts this season, but three of them came in Colorado's final three games of the regular season with Braian Galvan sidelined, so it's possible he sees some time in the playoffs as well.

NOVEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Dominique Badji - Scores goal in win Badji subbed into Sunday's match against LAFC in the 77th minute, and he scored a goal and made two clearances in the match.

Impact Badji added to LAFC's misery on Sunday with his fifth goal of the season, and Colorado emphatically clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Badji has made three starts in the last month after getting traded from Nashville in late July, but he will likely mostly feature in the playoffs as an impact substitute.

NOVEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Cole Bassett - Scores goal against LAFC Bassett scored a goal and created two chances in Sunday's 5-2 victory against LAFC.

Impact Bassett subbed into Sunday's match in the 56th minute, just after his opponents had pegged a goal back, and he made sure to seal the result for his side with his fifth goal of the season. He's been in and out of the XI since making 15 consecutive starts between May and August, but he will still have a role to play in the playoffs.

NOVEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Collen Warner - Scores goal against LAFC Warner took three shots and scored a goal in Sunday's 5-2 victory against LAFC. He also made two blocks, an interception and won one of one tackles in the match.

Impact Warner played well on both sides as his side emphatically defeated LAFC and clinched the first seed in the Western Conference. With only 11 starts this season, he is not guaranteed to be a consistent feature in the XI during the playoffs, but he showed Sunday that he can still do a good job when called upon.

NOVEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Jonathan Lewis - Scores brace against LAFC Lewis scored two goals and created a chance in Sunday's 5-2 victory against LAFC.

Impact Lewis scored two hugely important goals Sunday, locking up the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and a first-round bye in the playoffs for the Rapids. He finishes the regular season with seven goals and one assist, the best output of his career so far despite starting in only about 35 percent of Colorado's MLS games.

NOVEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Colorado Rapids cherish incredible underdog run to West summit: "No one thought they could" ' MLSSoccer.com The Colorado Rapids have not spent all that much time atop of the Western Conference table. Not this season, nor in their quarter-century of...

NOVEMBER 8, 2021 • MLSSOCCER.COM

Rapids clinch first place in Western Conference and first-round bye in playoffs with 5-2 win over LAFC COMMERCE CITY–The Colorado Rapids finished atop the Western Conference standings for the first time in club history on Sunday night at Dick’...

NOVEMBER 8, 2021 • DENVERPOST.COM

The MLS postseason comes into focus after Decision Day

Major League Soccer’s Decision Day solidified the playoffs and the Golden Boot race

NOVEMBER 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Recap: Colorado Rapids 5, LAFC 2 ' MLSSoccer.com The Colorado Rapids secured the Western Conference's top seed in the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs and clinched a berth in the 2022 Concacaf Ch...

NOVEMBER 8, 2021 • MLSSOCCER.COM

GOAL: Dominique Badji, Colorado Rapids - 79th minute ' MLSSoccer.com Official MLS highlights, classic matches, video series and features.

NOVEMBER 8, 2021 • MLSSOCCER.COM

GOAL: Cole Bassett, Colorado Rapids - 63rd minute ' MLSSoccer.com Official MLS highlights, classic matches, video series and features.

NOVEMBER 8, 2021 • MLSSOCCER.COM

GOAL: Jonathan Lewis, Colorado Rapids - 53rd minute ' MLSSoccer.com Official MLS highlights, classic matches, video series and features.

NOVEMBER 8, 2021 • MLSSOCCER.COM

GOAL: Collen Warner, Colorado Rapids - 33rd minute ' MLSSoccer.com Official MLS highlights, classic matches, video series and features.

NOVEMBER 8, 2021 • MLSSOCCER.COM

Rapids could clinch Western Conference with a win and some help elsewhere The Colorado Rapids have a tremendous opportunity in front of them.

NOVEMBER 6, 2021 • DENVERPOST.COM

Decision Day comes to MLS and chaos reigns, as usual

Eleven Major League Soccer teams enter the final weekend of the season with a chance to secure one of six remaining spots in the playoffs

NOVEMBER 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Los Angeles FC plays the Colorado Rapids in conference play

The Colorado Rapids host Los Angeles FC in a conference matchup

NOVEMBER 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Decision Day scenarios for Colorado Rapids fans ' MLSSoccer.com Colorado will clinch the top seed in the Western Conference IF: 1. Colorado win vs. LAFC AND 2. Seattle lose or tie vs. Vancouver AND 3. Kan...

NOVEMBER 4, 2021 • MLSSOCCER.COM

William Yarbrough - Produces big game Sunday Yarbrough made six saves and received one clean sheet during the 1-0 win against Houston on Sunday.

Impact Yarbrough was phenomenal for yet another match. The keeper has been outstanding as of late and over his last five appearances, he is averaging, 4.0 saves and 1.0 goals against per 90 minutes in all competitions. Those numbers slot him into elite company at the top of the league for his position. There is no reason to not play him right now.

NOVEMBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Dominique Badji - Scores third in four games Badji scored once, took two shots (two on target), made two tackles (none won) and received one yellow card during the 1-0 win against Houston on Sunday.

Impact Badji not only produced very little after his trade back to the Rapids, but he never got the chance to crack the starting XI either. However, over the last four appearances, he has started in three of them and he has now scored in each start. He also has seven shots, two crosses and three tackles during that time frame. Badji will remain a great option as long as he starts.

NOVEMBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE