The Colorado Rapids will be looking at this year’s Leagues Cup as a chance to put their league struggles to one side and find success on the continental stage this summer. The Rapids currently sit rock bottom of the Western Conference with just 3 games in 22 match-ups so far.
The team from Denver will get the ball rolling on July 23 as the away outfit in an all-MLS match-up against Nashville SC at Geodis Park, kicking off at 8:30pm ET time. They then return to their home ground, Dick's Sporting Goods Park, to take on LIGA MX side Toluca FC in their second Central 4 group stage match.
Coach Robin Fraser has a relatively young squad at his disposal - with an average age of just 23.6 years - that is nevertheless replete with both established internationals and up-and-coming prospects who can make the difference in this competition.
How are Colorado Rapids looking going into Leagues Cup 2023?
The Rapids have struggled to return to the heights they reached in the 2021 campaign, when they finished top of the Western Conference table. After coming in tenth last year, the team has again struggled for form this season, currently lying 12 points adrift of a potential play-off berth.
One of the reasons for the team’s struggles in front of goal in the MLS - no player has scored more than two goals across the campaign - has been the absence of star forward Diego Rubio due to a knee injury. Coach Fraser will be keen to have the Chilean back and fully operational ahead of their Leagues Cup campaign. Aside from Rubio, the team will also be looking to young prospects such as Cole Bassett to come to the fore.
Diego Rubio - leading the line in style
The 30-year-old scored no less than 16 goals in 30 MLS appearances last season, in what was a career-best return. He first introduced himself to American soccer at Sporting Kansas City, who he had joined from Spanish side Real Valladolid in 2019.
The versatile forward is adept at fending off pressure from defenders, and has an eye for a pass to add to his finishing touch. Decidedly the main man for the Colorado Rapids.
Cole Bassett - a young record-breaker
The 21-year-old midfielder recently broke the club record for minutes played by a home-grown player, and already has five years of professional soccer behind him. Honed in his craft with loan spells in The Netherlands last season. The Colorado native doesn’t just shine with his high workrate and defensive nous - he also knows how to find the net, as he showed when he scored on his US national team debut against Bosnia and Herzegovina in December 2021.
