Rapids First Eastern Conference Foe- Charlotte FC Preview

Commerce City — The Colorado Rapids look to bounce back after a brutal defeat at home to Portland last time out. They face their first Eastern Conference opponent in Charlotte FC in an early kickoff at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park. It’s Bark at the Park, will the pups bring the good luck for the ‘Pids? Let’s look at this matchup.

When: Saturday, March 29 @ 2:30 p.m. MST

Where: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park

TV/Streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

Humbled by Portland Timbers:

The Rapids suffered defeat for the first time in the 2025 MLS season at the hands of Portland at home, and they truly did suffer in this loss. Adam Beaudry made his home MLS debut and was left to dry multiple times by the ten in front of him. The Rapids were bossed on xG, 0.55 to 1.96, and it showed in the scoreline. The Rapids attack failed to produce much throughout the game and struggled in the second half.

It was looking to be the start of a good outing for the Rapids, who were the better team for the first 35-40 minutes. Then, in second-half stoppage time, Atencio found the back of his own net with a striker’s finish that just felt unlucky. It was the second time in two home games for the Rapids where they conceded moments before half-time. It so happens that in both of those games, the Rapids also started the second half poorly, with Antony doubling the lead in a hard-to-watch moment for Andreas Maxsø and Adam Beaudry. Kevin Kelsy gave Portland the dagger, scoring seconds after coming on in the second half, and that was enough for Armas to throw in the towel.

The Rapids have given up three goals in back-to-back home games, but unlike against Dallas, the attack stalled and proved to be frustrating to watch at times. It felt like a game that was decided the moment the ball bounced off of Atencio and found the corner of the net, a game where if the Rapids score first, the rest of the game falls more into their hands. They wouldn’t have had to press the action and force more men forward, leaving themselves vulnerable to what Portland wanted to exploit, the counter. What-ifs aside, the Rapids did not have a fun night and will look to do right against Charlotte.

Lineup Prediction:

Steffen / Rosenberry (c), Awaziem, Maxsø, Murphy / Atencio, Bassett, Larraz / Mihailović, Navarro, Cabral

The only shock from the injury report is Reggie Cannon being out with a groin injury. Vines could return from his hamstring injury, as he is listed as questionable for this week’s matchup. I don’t see Armas rushing Vinesy back this soon, though, and I expect to see Ian Murphy stand in for Cannon. This would be the second time Reggie Cannon has missed a game due to a groin injury. Whether it is a new case or the same groin that he is trying to play through, getting him healthy is a big priority for the Rapids.

The biggest change from last week’s team would be getting Zack Steffen back in net. The 29-year-old has returned to Colorado after his stint with the USMNT for the CONCACAF Nations League. Steffen did not see the field but was more bad luck than anything, as illness ruled him out of a start against Canada. Getting him back in goal would be a huge boost for this Rapids team.

A player we won’t see back is Connor Ronan, as the midfielder had an appendectomy days after the Portland loss. He is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks which will leave Armas with a midfield depth problem in the meantime. Wayne Frederick should be back from his own international call-up with Trinidad and Tobago and would be the first man up in the midfield, but the second man up would be Ali Fadal. The 21-year-old Ghanian has yet to make a debut with the Rapids since arriving in Colorado, but he may be forced to make an appearance in the midfield with Ronan unavailable.

What is Going on with the Defense?

The defense is starting to become a not so under the radar worry for this Rapids squad. At home is where this team has been punished the most, conceding six goals in two games, but it hasn’t looked so pretty away from home either. The Rapids had started the year with a clean sheet at St. Louis but gave up 17 shots and 2.01 expected goals (xG), not the numbers you could bank on getting a clean sheet with. Then they gave up three goals and 1.99 xG against Dallas, 1.36 xG against Austin, and 2.51 xG against San Jose.

Giving away almost ten expected goals in five games is not a winning formula. They got away with it against St. Louis, Austin, and San Jose behind great Zack Steffen performances, but he won’t always be there to save the team. This was shown against Portland, as the team gave up more goals than expected, only the second time they have done that this year. So, what is going on with the backline for the Rapids? You look across the line, and there doesn’t seem to be a weakness, a weak link. But the answer may not be with the personnel, but how they have been instructed to play this year.

The Rapids have looked more and more like the high press, Red Bull style of play that we were used to seeing with Chris Armas’s former teams. With the high press comes the high line, and the press itself leaves the high line in some difficult situations throughout games. This was evident for the last two goals from Portland in that game, with a direct and quick counterattack leaving the Rapids defenders scrambling in both instances. The high press that Armas has wanted to use in some games this year is high risk, high reward, and we have seen said reward in the two away wins before this game, but if a team can exploit this press like Portland did, it spells trouble for this defense.

Charlotte’s Quick Start:

Charlotte made one of, if not the most newsworthy signings in the winter transfer window, bringing in Wilfred Zaha on loan from Galatasaray. However, Charlotte has been one of the best defensive teams in the MLS so far this season. In five matches, they had conceded only four times, and against some pretty tough opponents. Kristijan Kahlina has carried his form from 2024 into 2025 and has excelled in net for Charlotte. In the attack, second-year man Pep Biel has been that guy for Charlotte, already bettering his goal contribution tally from last year, with six of the ten Charlotte goals coming from a Pep Biel contribution.

Charlotte has started the year with ten points out of the possible 15. After salvaging a point from a Seattle own goal in stoppage time, Charlotte has beaten Atlanta United, FC Cincinnati, and San Jose, while losing to ten-man Inter Miami without Messi. They took apart the teams that they beat and only conceded once in those games, against names like Evander, Miguel Almiron, and Chicho Arango. It has been an impressive start of the year for The Crown, and they still haven’t gotten the most out of their superstar Zaha yet.

The Rapids will have to break down a very good Charlotte defense, something that they have struggled to do this year. Charlotte will be without their starting center-back, Andrew Privett, who was sent off in their last match against San Jose. It will be interesting to see how Charlotte will adapt to Privett’s absence, and if the Rapids can exploit a potential Charlotte backline who will have to gel together quickly.

Prediction: Steffen’s return helps shore up the Rapids backline but isn’t enough to stop red-hot Charlotte. Charlotte FC wins 2-1.

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken

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