# 2021 Colorado Rapids season

The 2021 Colorado Rapids season was the club's twenty-sixth season of existence and their twenty-sixth consecutive season in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top flight of American soccer.

## Background

Colorado finished the 2020 season 5th in the Western Conference table, and 10th overall in MLS. Jonathan Lewis and Cole Bassett lead Colorado with 5 goals across all competitions. Outside of MLS play, the Rapids played in the MLS is Back Tournament, getting knocked out in the group stage. They were also scheduled to compete in the U.S. Open Cup before its cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Roster

    As of August 6, 2021
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | USA | Clint Irwin |
| 2 | DF | USA | Keegan Rosenberry |
| 3 | DF | USA | Drew Moor |
| 4 | DF | SCO | Danny Wilson |
| 5 | DF | USA | Auston Trusty |
| 6 | DF | GHA | Lalas Abubakar |
| 7 | FW | USA | Jonathan Lewis |
| 8 | FW | SEN | Dominique Badji |
| 9 | FW | BRA | Andre Shinyashiki |
| 11 | FW | CHI | Diego Rubio |
| 12 | FW | COL | Michael Barrios |
| 14 | MF | CAN | Mark-Anthony Kaye |
| 16 | MF | USA | Will Vint (HGP) |
| 19 | MF | ENG | Jack Price (captain) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 20 | MF | URU | Nicolás Mezquida |
| 21 | MF | DEN | Younes Namli (DP) |
| 22 | GK | USA | William Yarbrough |
| 23 | MF | USA | Kellyn Acosta |
| 24 | DF | USA | Kortne Ford (HGP) |
| 26 | MF | USA | Cole Bassett (HGP) |
| 30 | FW | USA | Oliver Larraz (HGP) |
| 32 | MF | USA | Collen Warner |
| 33 | DF | IRN | Steven Beitashour |
| 37 | FW | USA | Dantouma Toure |
| 52 | MF | ARG | Braian Galván |
| 66 | DF | BRA | Lucas Esteves (on loan from Palmeiras) |
| 77 | FW | USA | Darren Yapi (HGP) |

### Out on loan

    As of April 17, 2021
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 14 | MF | KEN | Philip Mayaka (GA) |
| 15 | GK | USA | Andre Rawls |
| 18 | DF | USA | Jeremy Kelly |
| 27 | DF | USA | Sebastian Anderson (HGP) |
| 28 | GK | USA | Abraham Rodriguez (HGP) |
| 29 | FW | USA | Matt Hundley (HGP) |
| 34 | DF | USA | Michael Edwards |

## Competitions

Win  Draw  Loss  Upcoming fixture

### Major League Soccer
#### Standings
##### Western Conference

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Colorado Rapids | 34 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 51 | 35 | +16 | 61 | Qualification for the Playoffs Conference semifinals and CONCACAF Champions League |
| 2 | Seattle Sounders FC | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 53 | 33 | +20 | 60 | Qualification for the Playoffs first round and CONCACAF Champions League |
| 3 | Sporting Kansas City | 34 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 58 | 40 | +18 | 58 | Qualification for the Playoffs first round |
| 4 | Portland Timbers | 34 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 56 | 52 | +4 | 55 | Qualification for the Playoffs first round |
| 5 | Minnesota United FC | 34 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 42 | 44 | −2 | 49 | Qualification for the Playoffs first round |

##### Overall table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | New England Revolution (S) | 34 | 22 | 5 | 7 | 65 | 41 | +24 | 73 | Qualification for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League |
| 2 | Colorado Rapids | 34 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 51 | 35 | +16 | 61 | Qualification for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League |
| 3 | Seattle Sounders FC | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 53 | 33 | +20 | 60 | Qualification for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League |
| 4 | Sporting Kansas City | 34 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 58 | 40 | +18 | 58 | |
| 5 | Portland Timbers | 34 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 56 | 52 | +4 | 55 | |
* ↑ As Supporters' Shield winners (USA2)
* ↑ As 2021 MLS Western Conference regular season champions (USA3)
* ↑ As highest-ranked U.S. based Division I club (based on 2021 MLS regular season record) not already qualified (USA4)

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
| Pld | Pts | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD |
| 34 | 61 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 51 | 35 | +16 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 31 | 14 | +17 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 20 | 21 | −1 |
Source: MLS standings Pld = Matches played; Pts = Points; W = Matches won; T = Matches tied; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| Stadium | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | H | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | H | A | A | A | H | H | A | A | H |
| Result | D | L | W | W | W | L | W | W | L | D | W | D | W | L | W | D | W | W | W | D | W | D | D | D | D | W | L | W | L | D | W | L | W | W |

#### Match results
### MLS Cup Playoffs

The Rapids clinched the regular season Western Conference title on the last day of the season, November 7. They lost to the Portland Timbers in the Western Conference Semifinals on November 25.

### U.S. Open Cup

It was announced on March 29 that the opening round of the tournament would not be held, and that the top eight MLS teams based on point per game from the first three weeks of the season would participate in the tournament. U.S. Soccer's Open Cup Committee announced it was not holding the 2021 U.S. Open Cup in the spring, but did not rule out holding the tournament later in the year. At the conclusion of the first three weeks of the season, the Rapids had gained 1.33 PPG, but that was not enough to qualify for the tournament. Eventually, it was announced that the U.S. Open Cup would not be held at all in 2021.

#### Qualification
## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

Numbers after plus–sign (+) denote appearances as a substitute.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | MLS | MLS | MLS Cup Playoffs | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | USA | Clint Irwin | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | USA | Keegan Rosenberry | 31 | 2 | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | USA | Drew Moor | 12 | 0 | 1+11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | SCO | Danny Wilson | 30 | 2 | 29 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | USA | Auston Trusty | 34 | 1 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | GHA | Lalas Abubakar | 25 | 2 | 23+1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | USA | Jonathan Lewis | 28 | 7 | 12+15 | 7 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 8 | FW | SEN | Dominique Badji | 13 | 5 | 3+9 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | BRA | Andre Shinyashiki | 32 | 4 | 18+14 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | CHI | Diego Rubio | 27 | 5 | 19+7 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | FW | COL | Michael Barrios | 34 | 8 | 25+8 | 8 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | CAN | Mark-Anthony Kaye | 16 | 1 | 14+1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | ENG | Jack Price | 31 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | URU | Nicolás Mezquida | 22 | 1 | 6+16 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | DEN | Younes Namli | 12 | 1 | 6+5 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 22 | GK | USA | William Yarbrough | 34 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | USA | Kellyn Acosta | 22 | 1 | 19+2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | USA | Cole Bassett | 32 | 5 | 22+9 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | DF | USA | Sebastian Anderson | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | USA | Oliver Larraz | 4 | 0 | 0+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | MF | USA | Collen Warner | 13 | 1 | 8+5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | IRN | Steven Beitashour | 11 | 0 | 6+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | FW | USA | Dantouma Toure | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 52 | FW | ARG | Braian Galván | 25 | 2 | 14+10 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 66 | DF | BRA | Lucas Esteves | 14 | 1 | 9+5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Players transferred/loaned out during the season ||||||||||
| 10 | FW | FRA | Nicolas Benezet | 11 | 0 | 1+10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | DF | USA | Sam Vines | 8 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
* Last updated: November 25, 2021
* Source: Colorado stats

### Top scorers

| Rank | Position | Number | Name | MLS | MLS Cup Playoffs | Total |
| 1 | FW | 12 | Michael Barrios | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 2 | FW | 7 | Jonathan Lewis | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 3 | FW | 8 | Dominique Badji | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 | FW | 11 | Diego Rubio | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 | MF | 26 | Cole Bassett | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | FW | 9 | Andre Shinyashiki | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 7 | DF | 2 | Keegan Rosenberry | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | DF | 4 | Danny Wilson | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | DF | 6 | Lalas Abubakar | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | FW | 52 | Braian Galván | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | DF | 5 | Auston Trusty | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | DF | 13 | Sam Vines | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | MF | 20 | Nicolás Mezquida | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | MF | 21 | Younes Namli | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | MF | 23 | Kellyn Acosta | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | MF | 32 | Collen Warner | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | DF | 66 | Lucas Esteves | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 50 | 0 | 50 |
* Last updated: November 25, 2021
* Source: Team Goals

### Top assists

| Rank | Position | Number | Name | MLS | MLS Cup Playoffs | Total |
| 1 | MF | 19 | Jack Price | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 2 | FW | 12 | Michael Barrios | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 | FW | 11 | Diego Rubio | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | MF | 26 | Cole Bassett | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | FW | 52 | Braian Galván | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | FW | 9 | Andre Shinyashiki | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | MF | 23 | Kellyn Acosta | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | FW | 7 | Jonathan Lewis | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | FW | 10 | Nicolas Benezet | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | DF | 13 | Sam Vines | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | MF | 14 | Mark-Anthony Kaye | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | MF | 20 | Nicolás Mezquida | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | MF | 21 | Younes Namli | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | DF | 33 | Steven Beitashour | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 38 | 0 | 38 |
* Last updated: November 25, 2021
* Source: Team Assists

### Clean sheets

| Rank | Number | Name | MLS | MLS Cup Playoffs | Total |
| 1 | 22 | William Yarbrough | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| Total | Total | Total | 13 | 0 | 13 |
* Last updated: November 25, 2021
* Source: Clean Sheets

### Disciplinary record

| Rank | No. | Pos. | Player | MLS | MLS | MLS | MLS Cup Playoffs | MLS Cup Playoffs | MLS Cup Playoffs | Total | Total | Total |
| 1 | 4 | DF | Danny Wilson | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 | 19 | MF | Jack Price | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 32 | MF | Collen Warner | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 11 | FW | Diego Rubio | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | 6 | DF | Lalas Abubakar | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | 5 | DF | Auston Trusty | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | 9 | FW | Andre Shinyashiki | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | 52 | FW | Braian Galván | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | 12 | FW | Michael Barrios | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | 26 | MF | Cole Bassett | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | 66 | DF | Lucas Esteves | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | 2 | DF | Keegan Rosenberry | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | 14 | MF | Mark-Anthony Kaye | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | 20 | MF | Nicolás Mezquida | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | 21 | MF | Younes Namli | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | 23 | MF | Kellyn Acosta | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | 7 | FW | Jonathan Lewis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | 8 | FW | Dominique Badji | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | 13 | DF | Sam Vines | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | 22 | GK | William Yarbrough | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | 33 | DF | Steven Beitashour | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | 37 | FW | Dantouma Toure | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 72 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 0 | 2 |
* Last updated: November 25, 2021
* Source: Team Discipline

## Transfers

For transfers in, dates listed are when the Rapids officially signed the players to the roster. For transfers out, dates are listed when the Rapids officially removed the players from the roster, not when they signed with another club. If a player later signed with a different club, his new club will be noted, but the date listed remains when he was officially removed from the roster.

### In

| Pos. | Player | Transferred from | Fee/notes | Date |
| FW | Michael Barrios | FC Dallas | FC Dallas receives an international roster spot and the 15th pick in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft. The Rapids also receive the 21st pick in the SuperDraft | January 13, 2021 |
| GK | William Yarbrough | León | Three-year contract with a club option | February 2, 2021 |
| FW | Oliver Larraz | Colorado Rapids Academy | Two-year Homegrown Player contract with a club option for two additional years. | March 3, 2021 |
| FW | Darren Yapi | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | Five-year Homegrown Player contract with a club option for one additional year. | March 3, 2021 |
| DF | Michael Edwards | VfL Wolfsburg II | Two-year Homegrown Player contract with a club option for two additional years. D.C. United will receive $75,000 in general allocation money for Edwards' homegrown priority. | March 4, 2021 |
| FW | Dantouma Toure | New York Red Bulls II | Four-year contract with a club option for an additional two years. New York Red Bulls will receive $50,000 in general allocation money for Toure's homegrown priority. | March 4, 2021 |
| MF | Mark-Anthony Kaye | Los Angeles FC | Los Angeles FC receives $1 million in general allocation money and a 2022 international roster spot. Colorado also receives a 2022 first-round Superdraft pick. | July 27, 2021 |
| FW | Dominique Badji | Nashville SC | Nashville SC receive $50,000 in general allocation money. | July 29, 2021 |

#### Loans in

| Pos. | Player | Parent club | Length/Notes | Beginning | End | Source |
| DF | Lucas Esteves | Palmeiras | One-year loan with an option to buy | August 6, 2021 | June 2022 | |

#### SuperDraft

Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. Only those who are signed to a contract will be listed as transfers in. Only trades involving draft picks and executed after the start of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft will be listed in the notes.
| Date | Player | Position | Previous club | Notes | Ref |
| January 21, 2020 | Philip Mayaka | MF | Clemson | Colorado traded the 6th overall pick in the 2021 SuperDraft and $200,000 in GAM to the Houston Dynamo in exchange for the 3rd overall pick, used to select Mayaka. | |

### Out

| Pos. | Player | Transferred to | Fee/notes | Date |
| FW | Niki Jackson | San Diego Loyal | Contract Option declined | December 14, 2020 |
| DF | Abdul Rwatubyaye | KF Shkupi | Contract Option declined | December 14, 2020 |
| DF | Deklan Wynne | Phoenix Rising | Contract Option declined | December 14, 2020 |
| DF | Sam Vines | Royal Antwerp | Transfer Fee not disclosed | August 5, 2021 |
| FW | Nicolas Benezet | Seattle Sounders FC | Colorado receives $50,000 in general allocation money | August 5, 2021 |

#### Loans out

| Pos. | Player | Loanee club | Length/Notes | Beginning | End |
| MF | Philip Mayaka | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | Duration of USL Championship season | March 24, 2021 | November 6, 2021 |
| GK | Andre Rawls | Phoenix Rising FC | Duration of USL Championship season | March 24, 2021 | November 6, 2021 |
| DF | Jeremy Kelly | Phoenix Rising FC | Recalled by the Rapids | March 24, 2021 | July 1, 2021 |
| DF | Sebastian Anderson | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | Duration of USL Championship season | March 24, 2021 | November 6, 2021 |
| GK | Abraham Rodriguez | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | Duration of USL Championship season | March 24, 2021 | November 6, 2021 |
| FW | Matt Hundley | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | Duration of USL Championship season | March 24, 2021 | November 6, 2021 |
| DF | Michael Edwards | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | Duration of USL Championship season | March 24, 2021 | November 6, 2021 |