The 2020 Colorado Rapids season was the club's twenty-fifth season of existence and their twenty-fifth consecutive season in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top flight of American soccer. The club qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since the 2016 season. Colorado were also set compete in the U.S. Open Cup before its cancellation. The season covers the period from October 7, 2019, to the conclusion of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Background
Colorado finished the 2019 season 9th in the Western Conference table, and 16th overall in MLS. Kei Kamara lead Colorado with 14 goals across all competitions. The club fired head coach Anthony Hudson on May 1, 2019, following a nine-match winless streak to start the season. Conor Casey served as interim head coach until the hiring of Robin Fraser as the club's new head coach on August 25. Outside of MLS play, the Rapids played in the 2019 edition of the U.S. Open Cup, where they lost in the fourth round to New Mexico United.
Overview
The Rapids started the season with wins over D.C. United and Orlando City SC before Major League Soccer paused the 2020 season due to COVID-19. The league returned to action in July with the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando, Fla., with Colorado in Group D with Minnesota United FC, Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City. After another month-long pause, MLS returned to in-market play in August. Colorado took three points from four games before reclaiming the Rocky Mountain Cup with a 5-0 win over RSL on Sept. 12. The win was Colorado's first ever at Rio Tinto Stadium and started a run of three wins in four, including three clean sheets. After a series of positive COVID test results, MLS postponed Rapids matches for one month. In all, five Rapids matches were cancelled, which, in addition to other cancellations around the league, prompted MLS to alter MLS Cup Playoff qualification to a points per game basis. The Rapids won their final three matches to qualify for the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2016, capturing the fifth seed in the Western Conference. Colorado visited fourth-seed Minnesota and lost, 3-0.
The season saw head coach Robin Fraser post the best record of any Rapids head coach through his first 25 games in charge. In their first 25 games under Fraser, the Rapids scored 47 goals, won 13 games and earned 43 points, all the most by a Rapids head coach since the introduction of draws to MLS in 2000.
After scoring the third-most goals in MLS with 58 in 2019, Colorado scored 32 goals in 18 games. Colorado's 1.78 goals per game ranked sixth in MLS in 2020. The Rapids also posted their first positive goal differential (+4) since 2016 and the seventh time in club history.
Several Rapids enjoyed breakout years in 2020, including Homegrown midfielder Cole Bassett and Homegrown defender Sam Vines. Bassett, from Littleton, Colo., turned 19 in July and finished the season as Colorado's leader with five goals and five assists. Vines, 21 years old from Colorado Springs, was the only player on the roster to play every minute in the regular season, adding the first goal and three assists of his MLS career. The duo was named to MLS 22 Under 22 for a second consecutive year. In February, Vines became the first Rapids Academy product to start a match for the USMNT, while Bassett scored four goals in four appearances with the U.S. U-20s and earned his first senior USMNT call-up for the December 2020 camp, joining Rapids teammates Vines and midfielder Kellyn Acosta. It was Acosta's first call-up in two years.
Roster
Out on loan
Competitions
Preseason
Major League Soccer
Standings
Western Conference
Overall table
Results summary
Results by round
Match results
MLS Cup Playoffs
The Rapids clinched a spot in the playoffs on November 4.
MLS is Back Tournament
Group stage
U.S. Open Cup
Note: The 2020 U.S Open Cup was suspended on March 13, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament was canceled on August 14.
Statistics
Appearances and goals
Numbers after plus–sign (+) denote appearances as a substitute.
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Players transferred/loaned out during the season
Top scorers {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align: center;" |- !width=30|Rank !width=30|Position !width=30|Number !width=175|Name !width=75| !width=75| !width=75|Total |- |rowspan="2"|1 | FW || 7 ||align="left"| Jonathan Lewis | 5 || 0 || 5 |- | MF || 26 ||align="left"| Cole Bassett | 5 || 0 || 5 |- |rowspan="1"|3 | FW || 99 ||align="left"| Andre Shinyashiki | 4 || 0 || 4 |- |rowspan="2"|4 | FW || 11 ||align="left"| Diego Rubio | 3 || 0 || 3 |- | FW || 23 ||align="left"| Kei Kamara | 3 || 0 || 3 |- |rowspan="2"|6 | MF || 10 ||align="left| Kellyn Acosta | 2 || 0 || 2 |- | MF || 21 ||align="left"| Younes Namli | 2 || 0 || 2 |- |rowspan="6"|8 | DF || 2 ||align="left"| Keegan Rosenberry | 1 || 0 || 1 |- | DF || 3 ||align="left"| Drew Moor | 1 || 0 || 1 |- | DF || 6 ||align="left"| Lalas Abubakar | 1 || 0 || 1 |- | DF || 13 ||align="left"| Sam Vines | 1 || 0 || 1 |- | MF || 20 ||align="left"| Nicolás Mezquida | 1 || 0 || 1 |- | FW || 52 ||align="left"| Braian Galván | 1 || 0 || 1 |- !colspan="4"|Total !! 30 !! 0 !! 30
Top assists {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align: center;" |- !width=30|Rank !width=30|Position !width=30|Number !width=175|Name !width=75| !width=75| !width=75|Total |- |rowspan="1"|1 | MF || 26 ||align="left"| Cole Bassett | 5 || 0 || 5 |- |rowspan="2"|2 | FW || 11 ||align="left"| Diego Rubio | 4 || 0 || 4 |- | MF || 19 ||align="left"| Jack Price | 4 || 0 || 4 |- |rowspan="2"|4 | DF || 13 ||align="left"| Sam Vines | 3 || 0 || 3 |- | MF || 21 ||align="left"| Younes Namli | 3 || 0 || 3 |- |rowspan="2"|6 | DF || 2 ||align="left"| Keegan Rosenberry | 2 || 0 || 2 |- | FW || 9 ||align="left"| Nicolas Benezet | 2 || 0 || 2 |- |rowspan="6"|8 | DF || 5 ||align="left"| Auston Trusty | 1 || 0 || 1 |- | MF || 10 ||align="left"| Kellyn Acosta | 1 || 0 || 1 |- | MF || 18 ||align="left"| Jeremy Kelly | 1 || 0 || 1 |- | MF || 20 ||align="left"| Nicolás Mezquida | 1 || 0 || 1 |- | FW || 23 ||align="left"| Kei Kamara | 1 || 0 || 1 |- | FW || 52 ||align="left"| Braian Galván | 1 || 0 || 1 |- !colspan="4"|Total !! 29 !! 0 !! 29
Clean sheets {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align: center;" |- !width=30|Rank !width=30|Position !width=30|Number !width=175|Name !width=75| !width=75| !width=75|Total |- |rowspan="1"|1 | GK || 50 || align=left| William Yarbrough | 4 || 0 || 4 |- !colspan="4"|Total !! 4 !! 0 !! 4
Disciplinary record {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- | rowspan="2" !width=15|Rank | rowspan="2" !width=15| | rowspan="2" !width=15| | rowspan="2" !width=120|Player | colspan="3"|MLS | colspan="3"|MLS Cup Playoffs | colspan="3"|Total |- !width=34; background:#fe9;| !width=34; background:#fe9;| !width=34; background:#ff8888;| !width=34; background:#fe9;| !width=34; background:#fe9;| !width=34; background:#ff8888;| !width=34; background:#fe9;| !width=34; background:#fe9;| !width=34; background:#ff8888;| |- |rowspan="1"|1 | 6 || DF ||align=left| Lalas Abubakar || 5 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 6 || 0 || 0 |- |rowspan="2"|2 | 19 || MF ||align=left| Jack Price || 4 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 1 |- | 10 || MF ||align=left| Kellyn Acosta || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 0 |- |rowspan="1"|4 | 11 || FW ||align=left| Diego Rubio || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 |- |rowspan="4"|5 | 4 || DF ||align=left| Danny Wilson || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 |- | 3 || DF ||align=left| Drew Moor || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 |- | 21 || MF ||align=left| Younes Namli || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 |- | 99 || FW ||align=left| Andre Shinyashiki || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 |- |rowspan="7"|9 | 1 || GK ||align=left| Clint Irwin || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 |- | 7 || FW ||align=left| Jonathan Lewis || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 |- | 9 || FW ||align=left| Nicolas Benezet || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 |- | 20 || MF ||align=left| Nicolás Mezquida || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 |- | 23 || FW ||align=left| Kei Kamara || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 |- | 26 || MF ||align=left| Cole Bassett || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 |- | 32 || MF ||align=left| Collen Warner || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 |- !colspan="4"|Total !! 30 !! 0 !! 2 !! 2 !! 0 !! 0 !! 32 !! 0 !! 2
Transfers
For transfers in, dates listed are when the Rapids officially signed the players to the roster. For transfers out, dates are listed when the Rapids officially removed the players from the roster, not when they signed with another club. If a player later signed with a different club, his new club will be noted, but the date listed remains when he was officially removed from the roster.
In Pos.PlayerTransferred fromFee/notesDateSource DF Lalas Abubakar Columbus Crew SC Columbus receives $400,000 in allocation money and a 2020 International Roster Spot November 20, 2019 DF Auston Trusty Philadelphia Union Philadelphia receives $750,000 in allocation money and a sell-on clause November 20, 2019 DF Drew Moor Toronto FC Signed to a one–year contract November 27, 2019 FW Nicolas Benezet Guingamp Toronto FC receives $50,000 in allocation money and an additional $50,000 in allocation money if Benezet starts 75% of matches in 2020. Guingamp receives a $500,000 transfer fee January 14, 2020 MF Braian Galván Colón Will see out remainder of contract with Colón prior to joining the Rapids on a free transfer on July 7, 2020. January 16, 2020 GK Abraham Rodriguez Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Signed as a Homegrown Player February 20, 2020 DF Jeremy Kelly North Carolina Tar Heels Signed to a one–year contract February 25, 2020 MF Will Vint Atlanta United FC Signed as a Homegrown Player. Atlanta United FC receives a 2022 SuperDraft 4th Round Pick. March 4, 2020 MF Collen Warner FC Helsingør Signed to a one-year contract. June 30, 2020 DF Steven Beitashour Los Angeles FC Signed to a one-year contract. September 19, 2020
Loans in Pos.PlayerParent clubLength/NotesBeginningEndSource MF Younes Namli FC Krasnodar Two-year loan with an option to buy January 15, 2020 January 15, 2022 GK William Yarbrough Club León One–year loan with an option to buy March 6, 2020 March 6, 2021
SuperDraft
Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. Only those who are signed to a contract will be listed as transfers in. Only trades involving draft picks and executed after the start of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft will be listed in the notes.
DatePlayerPositionPrevious clubNotesRef January 9, 2020 Jeremy KellyDF North Carolina Tar Heels MLS SuperDraft 1st Round Pick; Rights acquired from Montreal Impact for $75,000 in allocation money January 9, 2020 Robin AfamefunaDF Virginia Cavaliers MLS SuperDraft 2nd Round Pick
Out Pos.PlayerTransferred toFee/notesDateSourceGK Tim Howard Memphis 901 FC Retired. Joined Memphis on March 4, 2020. October 7, 2019DF Kofi Opare Contract Option declined November 21, 2019DF Tommy Smith Sunderland Contract Option declined November 21, 2019DF Sam Raben Sporting Kansas City II Contract Option declined November 21, 2019MF Dillon Serna Sporting Kansas City II Out of Contract November 21, 2019DF Axel Sjöberg Columbus Crew SC Waived. Signed for Columbus on December 4, 2019. November 27, 2019FW Sam Nicholson Bristol Rovers Contract terminated by mutual consent. Joined Bristol on July 22, 2020. July 2, 2020FW Kei Kamara Minnesota United FC Traded for $150,000 in GAM and a second-round pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft September 19, 2020
Loans out Pos.PlayerLoanee clubLength/NotesBeginningEndSourceFW Niki Jackson Colorado Springs Switchbacks FCDuration of the 2020 USL Championship season