First MLS Game After Leagues Cup- Rapids vs Minnesota Preview

Saint Paul, Minnesota– The Rapids return to MLS play after a middle-of-the-road Leagues Cup campaign. Neither Colorado nor Minnesota was one of the four MLS teams to advance to phase two in Leagues Cup, so no rescheduling was needed. Minnesota went into their last Leagues Cup match with hopes of advancing and fielded a full-strength eleven. Colorado went into the matchup with Cruz Azul aware of their elimination and was able to rotate key players. With nine games left, every game matters for Colorado in the final push for the playoffs. Let’s take a look at the matchup.

When: Sunday, August 10th @ 4:00 p.m. MST

Where: Allianz Field

TV/Streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

Youngsters Get a Result in Dead Rubber Game:

Colorado went into their last Leagues Cup match knowing that no matter the result, they would be eliminated from Leagues Cup. This allowed them to rotate some key players, giving some young guys some rare minutes. Rapids 2 player Sydney Wathuta played alongside Sam Bassett and Alex Harris. They played the full ninety. Noah Cobb and Jackson Travis started and Nico Hansen. Cruz Azul also knew that they were eliminated going into the final match, but they did not rotate. La Máquina fielded a strong lineup.

One of the few starters that played for Colorado, Rafa Navarro, got the Rapids on the board early through a mistake from Kevin Mier, the Cruz Azul goalkeeper. Maxsø joined in on the fun and scored off of a Cole Bassett set-piece just before half-time. Cruz Azul answered almost immediately, and then got the equalizer in the 78th minute. Colorado got to the full-time whistle with a tie, but despite the outcome of the game not affecting the top four race, the game went to penalties. Cruz Azul were a perfect 5/5 from the spot. This meant Oli Larraz’s miss early in the shootout was enough for Cruz Azul to take the extra point. Both teams would end Leagues Cup on four points, with seven points being the minimum to advance out of the group stage.

Despite losing a two-goal lead and eventually losing on penalties, this was a game that Colorado can hold their heads high after. Cruz Azul did not hold back; they did not rotate to the extent that the Rapids did. Colorado also was able to get a good look at some youth players, and Sydney Wathuta and Alex Harris impressed. The MVP of the match was Nico Hansen, who saved ten shots and kept the Rapids in the game throughout. Hansen has been stacking good performances, and it is reassuring to know Colorado has a reliable number two behind Steffen.

Lineup Prediction

Steffen / Cannon, Maxsø (c), Murphy, Vines / C. Harris, Larraz, C. Bassett, Ku-DiPietro / Yapi, Navarro

Josh Atencio and Connor Ronan remain on the injury report, meaning that the center midfield will be pretty thin in Minnesota. Expect Cole Bassett and Oli Larraz. It could be an opportunity for Wayne Frederick II to get some minutes as well. Jackson Travis has a new groin injury. Hopefully not severe, but Sam Vines can fill in and do a job.

The schedule congestion really ramped up for most MLS teams during the Leagues Cup stretch. Minnesota is a good example of a team that could be tired going into the first MLS game back. The Rapids were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to rest key players, using mostly backups and Rapids 2 players against Cruz Azul. This will allow the team to play their starters in Minnesota.

It will be interesting to see who Armas considers his starters, however. It will be even more interesting to see what formation he decides to go with. Minnesota will be the first MLS opponent without Djordje Mihailović, and the first match without him that didn’t include rotation or a last-minute scratch. Colorado does not have an out-and-out number ten to seamlessly replace Djordje in the 4-2-3-1 that Armas has opted for recently. This could be a great opportunity to go back to the two-striker system that the team has flirted with throughout this season. In all of the chaos of Djordje’s departure, it could be a great time to give Yapi some more minutes.

How Does the Team Adapt After Leagues Cup?

For the second season in a row, Colorado lost a key player during Leagues Cup. Last season, it was Moïse Bombito. This season, it was Chidozie Awaziem and Djordje Mihailović. Technically, Chido was before Leagues Cup, but both players started in Colorado’s last MLS home match before the tournament started. Both players were key to how the team played in 2025, and Colorado will have to quickly adapt to life without Chido and Djordje.

The adapting will be less difficult in the case of Chido. The Rapids were alerted to his departure long before they were aware of Djordje’s, and the team has acted on it. Colorado did not take long before acquiring two center backs, with the pair having wildly different profiles. The first acquisition was Noah Cobb, a young center back from Atlanta United. At just 20-years-old, Cobb is a project for Colorado, unlike other center-back signing, Rob Holding. Holding seems to be the plug-and-play replacement for Chido, slotting in alongside Andreas Masxø. All that needs to be sorted is the visa process for Holding.

The real concern comes from the hole the star player Djordje Mihailović will leave behind. Colorado was blindsided by the request of Mihalović to go to Toronto, and with the trade only recently being announced, the Rapids front office will have to find someone to replace him. The squad does not have an easy replacement for Djordje, with the closest player in that position being Rapids 2 player Sydney Wathuta. Colorado could look into playing a player out of position, maybe a Cole Bassett or Ted Ku-DiPietro, to fill in. But if Chris Armas wants to continue to play with an outright number ten, Colorado will have to look outside the team.

High-Flying Minnesota

While Leagues Cup did not go the way head coach Eric Ramsey would have liked, he may not have as many complaints about how the team is performing in MLS. Minnesota is right alongside the top dogs in the West. They sit just one point behind Vancouver and two points behind first-place San Diego. Sitting at third in the West, Minnesota has had a great season so far. Only Miami has fewer losses than the Loons. Minnesota also has Open Cup success on their mind, finding themselves in the semi-finals of the historic competition.

However, with success in different competitions comes some challenges to deal with. Minnesota started Leagues Cup well with a 4-1 win against Queretaro. A Club America last-second equalizer kept Minnesota from going perfect in the group, but still gave the Loons hope they could go through with a win against San Luis. Minnesota went on to lose 2-0 to the Liga MX side, and now they look to return to MLS play just four days after. Fatigue may come into play for Minnesota, whether it be personnel decisions or a drop in play on the field.

Minnesota has ridden on the back of Tani Oluwaseyi throughout the season. The Canadian international leads the team in both goals and assists, with nine goals and seven assists on the season. The 25-year-old striker has been a solid player for Minnesota ever since he joined the second team back in 2022, but 2025 has been his coming-out party. Paired up with Kelvin Yeboah, Minnesota has a dangerous attack, and one that Colorado will have to be aware of.

This will be the first matchup of the season between the two sides, with Minnesota United being the last Western Conference team for the Rapids to play. The two sides will meet again at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park in late September.

Prediction: Colorado comes out of Leagues Cup in better shape than Minnesota, but the Loons still show their class in Minnesota. The sides share the points, 1-1 tie.

Photo Credit: Spencer Baldwin

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