What can we Expect From the Colorado Rapids Home Stretch?

Commerce City, CO – It’s not about how you start, it’s how you finish, and nobody knows that better than MLS side Colorado Rapids. Despite finishing with the fifth-best record in the Western Conference in 2020, the Rapids lost 3-0 to Minnesota United in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs that year. They bounced back in stellar fashion by winning the Western Conference and placing second in the Supporters’ Shield standings in 2021, but they were nevertheless unable to build on their momentum any further after losing 1-0 to Portland Timbers at the first time of asking. After missing out on the playoffs in two straight years, the Rapids returned to the postseason in 2024, where they once again fell in the first round after losing 9-1 on aggregate to eventual champions LA Galaxy.

Having finished seventh in the Western Conference and 12th overall in their first season under Chris Armas, Colorado find themselves in a similar position today, sitting seventh in the West and 17th overall. With six matches remaining in the regular season, Colorado are in a fairly comfortable spot as far as their postseason aspirations are concerned.

They are one point above San Jose Earthquakes and Austin FC, the latter having two games in hand, whilst they also boast a five-point advantage on Real Salt Lake, a six-point advantage on FC Dallas, and a seven-point advantage on Houston Dynamo, all of whom have a game in hand. However, Colorado will be nevertheless seeking to finish in the top seven spots, rather than eighth or ninth, in order to avoid having to play in the wildcard round.

Whilst Colorado find themselves in a strong position to return to the postseason, there’s still plenty of work to be done as they seek to extend their season into November. After suffering a 3-0 defeat against LA Galaxy, a team that is simultaneously the reigning MLS Cup champions and the worst team in the league, Colorado will be looking to bounce back on Saturday as they travel to Sporting Kansas City, who sit 11 points adrift the playoff positions after a dreadful run that has seen them take one point from their last six matches.

They will return to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park two weeks later and face off against a team that has been a thorn in their side in recent years: Houston Dynamo, who have won three of their last four meetings and avoided defeat in each of their last seven encounters. Colorado will then head to Texas to take on FC Dallas before hosting a Minnesota United side that is currently challenging for the top spot in the West. Minnesota has won five of their last eight games vs. the Rapids. It’s then off to Utah as Colorado face off against Rocky Mountain rivals Real Salt Lake, who have lost each of their last three matches.

Last, Colorado will welcome Los Angeles FC to Commerce City for their final regular season match on October 18. LAFC have competed in four different competitions this season, reaching the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals and exiting the Leagues Cup after the league phase, whilst they also were given a chance to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup after Club León were kicked out due to having the same ownership group as fellow Mexican participants Pachuca. As a result, LAFC faced off against América in a do-or-die match for the 32nd spot in the tournament, with Igor Jesus’ 89th-minute equalizer seeing them stave off elimination by the skin of their teeth. And just when the two sides looked to be headed for a penalty shootout, Denis Bouanga completed the comeback in the 115th minute for LAFC, who would lose their first two Club World Cup matches before drawing to Flamengo.

Bolstered by the arrival of South Korean superstar Heung-min Son, LAFC sit fifth in the West, three points above sixth-placed Portland and five above Colorado, in addition to also having two games and three games in hand on the aforementioned two sides. Having won four of their last five meetings vs. Colorado, this could very well the toughest match of the entire home stretch for Armas’ men. It’s why, as they prepare to take on the only one of their remaining six opponents who is outside the playoff picture, Colorado cannot afford to pick up anything less than three points against Kansas City.

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