Kansas City, KS– The Colorado Rapids (2-0-2, 7th place) will look to turn it around against a Sporting KC (1-1-2, 12th place) side that has had a rocky last few months. Both teams made some subpar moves in the offseason, and expectations for them were pretty low going into the season. It has been a different start to the season for either side, as Sporting KC is coming off its first win of the season against a depleted LA Galaxy side. Colorado are coming off a loss, but two straight home wins have the vibes high in Commerce City. A win would be huge for both sides. Let’s take a look at the matchup.
When: Saturday, March 21st @ 6:30 p.m. MST
Where: Sporting Park, Kansas
TV/Streaming: Apple TV
Struck Out at Yankee Stadium
Colorado could not get their first win away from home when they visited the Big Apple. An on-fire NYCFC side showed why they had gone unbeaten through the first three games. It was a professional win for the Eastern Conference side, who took their chances when they came up and took all three points in a 3-1 loss for the Rapids.
Colorado will only have themselves to blame for this game, however. The Rapids were very good at keeping possession in this match, but they did not convert that possession into chances. NYCFC scored off of two pretty bad mistakes from the Rapids. The first NYCFC goal came off a Rapids goal kick, when Rob Holding gave the ball away and then failed to stop Nico Fernandez from getting two shots off, the second of which found the back of the net. The second goal came from a set piece, as the two-man Rapids wall of Alexis Manyoma and Hamzat Ojediran split, leaving Nico Hansen exposed at the near post. Nico Fernandez found the gap and made it two.
It wasn’t all bad, as Darren Yapi, in a half where Matt Wells said he had a terrible 45 minutes, scored the only goal for the Rapids. High pressure got the Rapids the ball deep in NYCFC territory, and Rafa Navarro found the homegrown, and Yapi did the rest. A third NYCFC goal made sure of the result, and came off of Colorado pressing for the equalizer.
It was another road loss for this Rapids side, but it was miles different than the Seattle match. Colorado took the game to NYCFC, with the broadcast noting that this game was the most intense one at Yankee Stadium this season. The Rapids have had their fair share of multiple-goal losses away from home, but this felt much different. The Rapids have an identity, and they played a good game away from home. Colorado will hope to get their first road points against Sporting KC.
Lineup Prediction:
Steffen / Rosenberry (c), Holding, Herrington, Travis / Atencio, Ojediran, Aaronson / Sealy, Navarro, Yapi
Adam Beaudry has gone back to his loan at Loundon United, so Zack Steffen looks to be available in some capacity against Sporting KC. Nico Hansen hasn’t done anything wrong to lose the starting spot, but if Steffen is ready to go, he will most likely slot right back into the starting lineup. Reggie Cannon is still out with an Achilles injury and will most likely not be back for some time. Connor Ronan remains out, but his timetable to return is much closer to Cannon’s.
Competition is always good for a team, and Colorado has some competition in many positions across the starting eleven. Matt Wells made some interesting changes against NYCFC that showed this. Wayne Frederick made his first start of the season, alongside Alexis Manyoma, getting some minutes on the wing. It is known how much Wells likes Frederick, and it is good to see the youngster earn some starting minutes.
Alexis Manyoma is an interesting player, as Colorado will have to decide his future this summer, as his loan ends. As good a player as he can be, he doesn’t seem to fit the Wells system. He is a winger who will do something with the ball; half the time, he will make something good, and the other half, he will lose possession. Wells is big on possession, so it’ll be interesting to see what the club does when his loan expires.
Lastly, Lucas Herrington should be a lock to start at center back. He’s had a great to start to his time in Colorado. So much so, he just got his first senior call-up with the Australia national team.
New Look Sporting KC Side
Interesting would be too nice a word to use to describe this offseason for Sporting KC. It hasn’t been great for the Rapids either, but it has been bad for a Sporting KC side that needed a rebuild after last season. They did clean house, as ten players left in the offseason moves made last October. A majority of the 10 players who left had gotten a good chunk of minutes in 2025, with Erik Thommy, Logan Ndenbe, and Khiry Shelton headlining those who left in late October. Daniel Salloi was added to the list of departures after he left for Toronto, and KC’s roster was left with a lot of holes to fill.
But Sporting KC did not make many splashes in the offseason to fill the roster’s needs. They have brought in a few MLS fringe players, including ex-Rapid Calvin Harris. KC recently brought in center back Daniel Borges, whom Colorado had eyes on. The big splash was made on Lasse Berg Johnsen from Malmo. But there weren’t many, if any, impressive moves that could move the needle for the Western Conference side. If last season was Dejan Joveljic and ten cones, it is worse this year. Colorado will have to keep an eye on Joveljic if they want to keep him off the board, as the striker has started 2026 hot, scoring three goals already.
You always have to respect your opponents in MLS, but this is a great opportunity for Colorado to get their first points away from home. Sporting KC still needs a lot to fill their roster to MLS quality. There might not be a better matchup for the Rapids away from home this season. It is still a question of whether Colorado is a good team. A good team would get all three points in this matchup.
Prediction: Colorado gets their first points away from home under Matt Wells, and it is all three. The Rapids win this game 3-1.
Thank you for reading Burgundy Wave. Support us via our Patreon starting at $5/month. You can also make a one-time contribution via Tip Jar. We’re always looking for new talent. Let us know if you’re interested in covering Colorado Soccer.
Eamon Shaw 