Colorado Rapids vs. Sporting Kansas City | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 8
Colorado Rapids vs. Sporting Kansas City
Dick's Sporting Goods Park – Commerce City
August 29 – 9:00 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada

LOCAL TV: Altitude, FOX Sports KC

Two teams looking to rebound from lopsided defeats meet at Dick's Sporting Goods Park when the Colorado Rapids host Sporting Kansas City Saturday night.

The Rapids surrendered four unanswered goals in a 4-1 Rocky Mountain Cup defeat to Real Salt Lake on the weekend, while SKC fell 5-2 at home to the Houston Dynamo.

The Rapids have only lost five times in 33 all-time home contests against SKC, but they're looking to avenge a 3-2 loss in the MLS is Back Tournament in a match that had three Video Reviews, a pair of sending offs and 12 minutes of second-half stoppage time.

Colorado Rapids

The Colorado Rapids flew to Texas Wednesday to play FC Dallas, but the match was postponed when players from both teams joined a coordinated effort from players across the league to sit out the match. They followed the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, who didn't report to the court for their scheduled playoff game against the Orlando Magic that afternoon, as players continue to support the Black Lives Matter movement and protests against the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Kortne Ford (D) - left knee injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution:None
• International duty: None

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting are usually a stout defensive team, especially at Children's Mercy Park, but on Tuesday they leaked five goals in a stunning defeat to the Houston Dynamo. Johnny Russell leveled before the half hour mark, but they conceded quickly on either side of halftime to fall behind 3-1. Gadi Kinda gave the hosts a lifeline, but Darwin Quintero snuffed it out with a late brace.   

On Thursday, Peter Vermes offered his support of the decision made by players across the league to join other professional athletes to not play in the wake of the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

“We’ve met with the players over all the issues going on," Vermes told reporters on a video conference call on Thursday. "These issues concerning our country have to be dealt with, (we want them to know) we understand that. We’ve listened to players. We listen to staff, we’re incredibly supportive.”

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Felipe Gutierrez (M) - knee injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None

Series Matchup at Rapids

• Rapids: 18 wins, 53 goals
• Sporting KC: 5 wins, 39 goals
• 10 draws

Officials

• Referee: Armando Villarreal
• Assistant Referees: Corey Parker, Jeremy Kieso
• 4th Official: Alejandro Mariscal
• VAR: Allen Chapman