Preview | Rapids set for cross-country matchup with the Philadelphia Union

The Colorado Rapids (8-10-6, 30 pts., seventh West) journey to the east coast for an inter-conference matchup with the Philadelphia Union (14-5-5, 47 pts., third East) on Saturday night time. Kickoff at Subaru Park is about for five:30 p.m. MT with protection accessible on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, ColoradoRapids.com, and the Colorado Rapids app.

In what would be the last MLS match earlier than the beginning of Leagues Cup 2025 for each golf equipment, there shall be an elevated sense of urgency because the playoff image begins to take form with the top of the common season rapidly approaching. Colorado has maintained their spot at seventh place within the West over the previous few weeks whereas Philadelphia have been within the Supporters’ Shield race on the prime of the Eastern Conference for a majority of 2025.

Saturday’s contest will mark the primary matchup between these two golf equipment for the reason that Leagues Cup 2024 Third Place match final summer season. Following Colorado’s unbelievable run within the match, the membership traveled to Philadelphia with a spot within the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup on the road. Goals from Oliver Larraz and Calvin Harris within the match ultimately led to a 2-2 scoreline at regulation, bringing the match to a shootout to find out the winner. Stepping up within the shootout was Zack Steffen, who made essential stops on the Union’s prime attackers to seal the victory and safe the membership’s CCC berth.

The Rapids are coming off a historic comeback on the street in opposition to the Seattle Sounders. After happening 3-0 shortly after the second half started, the Rapids began storming again to attempt to salvage a degree. Leading the cost had been Djordje Mihailovic, Cole Bassett, and substitute Darren Yapi, who all discovered the again of the web inside a 25-minute span to ultimately tie the match and earn the draw. The comeback marked the primary time in MLS historical past {that a} membership has overcome a three-goal deficit in opposition to the Sounders at Lumen Field to ultimately earn a draw or win.

On the opposite finish of this matchup shall be a Philadelphia facet that has been dominant at house to this point in 2025. In their 12 matches at Subaru Park in MLS this season, the Union have posted an 8-1-3 file with their solely loss coming to Nashville SC again in March. Since that match, Philadelphia has gone unbeaten of their final ten house matches. Their most up-to-date consequence got here on the street in opposition to Houston the place they performed to a 1-1 draw.

Spearheading the Philadelphia assault is All-Star ahead Tai Baribo, who leads the membership in objectives with 14 on the season, and is fourth within the MLS Golden Boot race. Baribo will enter the match recent off his MLS All-Star Game efficiency the place he scored a purpose to earn MVP honors within the matchup in opposition to the Liga MX All-Stars.

Since Philadelphia entered the league in 2010, these two sides have had a fair file in opposition to one another. In their 14 MLS common season matchups, the golf equipment have performed to a fair 4-6-4 file.