2016 Colorado Rapids season

The 2016 Colorado Rapids season was the club's 21st season of existence, and their 21st season in Major League Soccer, the top tier of the American and Canadian soccer pyramids.

Colorado Rapids
2016 season
ChairmanStan Kroenke
Head coachPablo Mastroeni
Major League SoccerConference: 2nd
Overall: 2nd
MLS Cup PlayoffsConference Finals
U.S. Open CupFifth round
Rocky Mountain CupRunners-up
Top goalscorerLeague: Shkëlzen Gashi (9)
All: Shkëlzen Gashi (9)
Highest home attendance18,759
(Jul. 4 vs. POR)
Lowest home attendance10,670
(Apr. 16 vs. RBNY)
Average home league attendance16,278
← 2015
2017 →

The 2016 season was the Rapids' most successful regular season in franchise history. During the season, the Rapids finished 2nd in the Western Conference and 2nd overall in the regular season, besting their previous best regular season finish of 3rd in the Western Conference and 4th overall in 2002. The Rapids finished undefeated at home with a record of 11-0-6. At home, they conceded only 7 goals, setting a new MLS record with a 0.41 goals-against average. The season also featured a franchise-record 15 match unbeaten streak. After finishing at the bottom of the table for the 2015, the season was hallmarked as a surprising turnaround. The team was bolstered by incoming transfer targets Tim Howard, Shkëlzen Gashi, Marco Pappa and Jermaine Jones. Outside of the regular season, the Rapids reached the fifth round of the U.S. Open Cup before falling to eventual champions, FC Dallas.

Background

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Club

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Squad correct as of May 13, 2016.[1]

No. Pos. Player Nation
1 GK Tim Howard (DP)   United States
3 DF Eric Miller   United States
4 DF Marc Burch   United States
5 DF Mekeil Williams   Trinidad and Tobago
6 MF Sam Cronin   United States
7 MF Sébastien Le Toux   France
8 MF Dillon Powers   United States
9 FW Kevin Doyle (DP)   Republic of Ireland
10 MF Marco Pappa   Guatemala
11 FW Shkëlzen Gashi (DP)   Albania
13 FW Jermaine Jones   United States
14 FW Dominique Badji   Senegal
17 MF Dillon Serna (HGP)   United States
18 GK Zac MacMath   United States
19 FW Conor Doyle   United States
20 DF Joseph Greenspan   United States
22 MF Micheal Azira   Uganda
23 DF Bobby Burling   United States
24 DF Sean St Ledger   Republic of Ireland
33 MF Jared Watts   United States
44 DF Axel Sjöberg   Sweden
94 DF Marlon Hairston (GA)   United States

Transfers

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For transfers in, dates listed are when Colorado officially signed the players to the roster. Transactions where only the rights to the players are acquired are not listed. For transfers out, dates listed are when Colorado officially removed the players from its roster, not when they signed with another club. If a player later signed with another club, his new club will be noted, but the date listed here remains the one when he was officially removed from the Rapids roster.

No. Pos. Player Transferred from Fee/notes Date Source
22 MF   Michael Azira   Seattle Sounders FC Waiver Draft December 9, 2015
18 GK   Zac MacMath   Philadelphia Union Trade December 11, 2015
10 MF   Marco Pappa   Seattle Sounders FC Trade December 15, 2015
16 MF   Zach Pfeffer   Philadelphia Union Trade January 15, 2016
11 FW   Shkëlzen Gashi   FC Basel Transfer, undisclosed February 1, 2016
5 DF   Mekeil Williams   Antigua GFC Transfer, Discovery Signing February 4, 2016
19 FW   Conor Doyle   D.C. United Traded for a 3rd Round pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft February 9, 2016
13 FW   Jermaine Jones   New England Revolution Trade March 4, 2016
1 GK   Tim Howard   Everton Free June 28, 2016
7 MF   Sébastien Le Toux   Philadelphia Union Trade August 3, 2016

Draft picks

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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 2015 MLS SuperDraft will be listed in the notes.

Date Player Number Position Previous club Notes Ref
January 14, 2016   Emmanuel Appiah MF   Cincinnati Bearcats MLS SuperDraft 1st Round Pick (#15); Pick acquired from Chicago Fire through Seattle Sounders FC.
January 14, 2016   Dennis Castillo DF   VCU Rams MLS SuperDraft 2nd Round Pick (#37); Pick acquired from Dallas FC.
January 19, 2016   Chris Frouchauer GK   Ohio State Buckeyes MLS SuperDraft 3rd Round Pick (#43).
January 19, 2016   Javan Torre FW   UCLA Bruins MLS SuperDraft 3rd Round Pick (#56)
January 19, 2016   Bradley Kamdem DF   UNLV Rebels MLS SuperDraft 3rd Round Pick (#58)
January 19, 2016   John Manga FW   Cincinnati Bearcats MLS SuperDraft 4th Round Pick (#63)
No. Pos. Player Transferred to Fee/notes Date Source
16 DF   James Riley Waived December 3, 2015
3 DF   Drew Moor   Toronto FC Waived December 3, 2015
2 MF   Nick LaBrocca   Chicago Fire Waived December 3, 2015
22 MF   Lucas Pittinari   Belgrano Loan ended, option declined December 3, 2015
7 FW   Vicente Sánchez   Defensor Sporting Waived December 3, 2015
57 MF   Carlos Alvarez   San Antonio FC Waived December 3, 2015
19 FW   Charles Eloundou   Jacksonville Armada Waived December 3, 2015
10 FW   Gabriel Torres   Zamora Free Transfer December 3, 2015
5 DF   Michael Harrington   Chicago Fire Waived December 3, 2015
1 GK   Clint Irwin   Toronto FC Received allocation money, #56 in 2016 MLS SuperDraft, conditional pick in 2017 MLS SuperDraft January 18, 2016
31 DF   Maynor Figueroa   FC Dallas Traded for allocation money January 26, 2016
5 MF   Marcelo Sarvas   D.C. United Traded for allocation money February 1, 2016
30 GK   Chris Froschauer Waived June 30, 2016
MF   Emmanuel Appiah   Sporting Kansas City Waived June 30, 2016
21 FW   Luis Solignac   Chicago Fire Traded August 3, 2016

Loaned out

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No. Pos. Player Loaned to Date Source
15 MF   Juan Ramirez   Talleres August 8, 2016
29 FW   Caleb Calvert   Charlotte Independence March 15, 2016
MF   Emmanuel Appiah   Charlotte Independence March 15, 2016
12 GK   John Berner   Charlotte Independence April 11, 2016
16 MF   Zach Pfeffer   Charlotte Independence April 28, 2016
26 DF   Dennis Castillo   Charlotte Independence April 28, 2016

Competitions

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Preseason

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February 13, 2016 Friendly Sacramento Republic FC 0–1 Colorado Rapids Sacramento, California, U.S.
5:00 PM PST [3] Cochran   86' Stadium: Bonney Field
Attendance: 10,240
February 17, 2016 2016 Desert Diamond Cup Swope Park Rangers 3–1 Colorado Rapids Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
5:30 PM MST Tyrpak   1'
VanCompernolle   18'
Sanchez   63'
Little   90'
[4] Badji   17'
Watts   44'
Stadium: Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium
February 27, 2016 2016 Desert Diamond Cup Arizona United SC 0–3 Colorado Rapids Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
6:30 PM MST [7] Ringhof   17' (o.g)
Doyle   31'
Gashi   83'
Stadium: Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium
Referee: Ismail Elfath
March 6, 2016 1 San Jose Earthquakes 1–0 Colorado Rapids San Jose, California, U.S.
2:00 PM PST Wondolowski   46'
Godoy   72'
Quintero   75'
[8] Azira   43'
Powers   86'
Stadium: Avaya Stadium
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Ted Unkel
March 12, 2016 2 Colorado Rapids 1–0 LA Galaxy Commerce City, Colorado, U.S.
5:00 PM MST Burch   45'
Watts   89'
K. Doyle   90+1'
Pappa   90+5'
Report Gerrard   43'
Steres   50'
Van Damme   72'
Boateng   82'
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 17,474
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
March 20, 2016 3 D.C. United 1–1 Colorado Rapids Washington, D.C., U.S.
5:00 PM EDT Espindola   80'
Sarvas   86'
Report Watts   19'
Powers   45+1'   69'
Sjöberg   49'
Azira   43'
Stadium: RFK Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 15,344
Referee: Chris Penso
April 2, 2016 4 Colorado Rapids 1–0 Toronto FC Commerce City, Colorado, U.S.
6:00 PM MDT Solignac   18'
Burch   45'
Burling   59'
C. Doyle   82'
Report Cheyrou   11'   13'
Perquis   48'
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 10,772
Referee: Ismail Elfath
April 9, 2016 5
Rocky Mountain Cup
Real Salt Lake 1–0 Colorado Rapids Sandy, Utah, U.S.
7:30 PM MDT Plata   72'
Yura Movsisyan   83'
Report Burling   61'
Miller   90+3'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 19,224
Referee: Drew Fischer
April 13, 2016 6 Sporting Kansas City 1–2 Colorado Rapids Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.
7:30 PM CDT Rubio   52'
Dwyer   77'
Report Pappa   33'
Solignac   41'
Serna   57'
Burch   62'
Gashi   82'
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 19,168
Referee: Robert Sibiga
April 16, 2016 7 Colorado Rapids 2–1 New York Red Bulls Commerce City, Colorado, U.S.
7:00 PM MDT Jones   21'
Badji   82'
Doyle   90+1'
Report Grella   36'
Zubar   60'   79'
Duvall   64'
Lawrence   84'
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 10,670
Referee: Ricardo Salazar
April 23, 2016 8 Colorado Rapids 3–1 Seattle Sounders FC Commerce City, Colorado, U.S.
7:00 PM MDT Badji   1'
Williams   14'
Jones   20'   20'
Miller   47'
Solignac   51'
Doyle   86'
Report Morris   63'
Evans   86'   86'  
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 17,294
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
April 30, 2016 9 Montreal Impact 2–2 Colorado Rapids Montreal, Quebec, Canada
4:00 PM EDT Drogba   9'
Tissot   50'
Ciman   66'
Report Gashi   47'   78'
Sjöberg   61'
Burling   72'
Stadium: Saputo Stadium
Attendance: 20,801
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
May 7, 2016 10
Rocky Mountain Cup
Colorado Rapids 1–0 Real Salt Lake Commerce City, Colorado, U.S.
7:00 PM MDT Williams   15'
Jones   47'   53'
Gashi   81'
MacMath   90+1'
Report Sunny   29'
Beltran   79'
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 14,638
Referee: Jair Marrufo
May 11, 2016 11 Colorado Rapids 1–0 Sporting Kansas City Commerce City, Colorado, U.S.
7:00 PM MDT Badji   33'
Sjöberg   75'
Serna   78'
Report Opara   56'   76'
Olum   59'
Dwyer   61'
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 12,857
Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero
May 14, 2016 12 Columbus Crew SC 1–1 Colorado Rapids Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
7:30 PM EDT Mabwati   23' Report Doyle   10'   55'
Gashi   63'
Stadium: MAPFRE Stadium
Attendance: 15,203
Referee: Chris Penso
May 21, 2016 13 Seattle Sounders FC 0–1 Colorado Rapids Seattle, Washington, U.S.
7:00 PM PDT Sjöberg   43'
Jones   44'
Burch   60'
Williams   79'
Stadium: CenturyLink Field
Attendance: 41,028
Referee: Ismail Elfath
May 28, 2016 14 Colorado Rapids 1–1 Philadelphia Union Commerce City, Colorado, U.S.
7:00 PM MDT Cronin   87' Carroll   90+2' Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 18,015
Referee: Hilario Grajeda ()
June 18, 2016 15 Colorado Rapids 2–1 Chicago Fire Commerce City, Colorado, U.S.
7:00 PM MDT Doyle   57'
Pappa   89'
Burch   90+4'
Ramos   67'
Calistri   81'
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 18,103
Referee: Juan Guzman (United States)
June 22, 2016 16 LA Galaxy 0–0 Colorado Rapids Carson, California, U.S.
7:30 PM PDT [] Stadium: StubHub Center
Attendance: 21,884
July 8, 2016 18 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2–2 Colorado Rapids Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
7:00 PM PDT [] Stadium: BC Place
Attendance: 22,120
July 23, 2016 20 Colorado Rapids 1–1 FC Dallas Commerce City, Colorado, U.S.
7:00 PM MDT [] Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 18,178
July 30, 2016 21 New York City FC 5–1 Colorado Rapids New York, New York, U.S.
3:00 PM EDT Lampard   28', 81', 84' (pen.)
Taylor   42'
Mendoza   75'
[] Azira   21'   37'  
Gashi   90+2'
Stadium: Yankee Stadium
Attendance: 25,711
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
August 13, 2016 23 LA Galaxy 1–1 Colorado Rapids Carson, California, U.S.
7:30 PM PDT Steres   62' [] Gashi   51' Stadium: StubHub Center
Attendance: 25,667
Referee: Juan Guzman
August 20, 2016 24 Colorado Rapids 0–0 Orlando City SC Commerce City, Colorado, U.S.
7:00 PM MDT [] Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 16,813
August 26, 2016 25
Rocky Mountain Cup
Real Salt Lake 2–1 Colorado Rapids Sandy, Utah, U.S.
6:00 PM MDT Movsisyan   39', 48' Report Gashi   5'
Powers   60'
Burch   84'
Howard   90+2'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 20,134
Referee: Jair Marrufo
September 3, 2016 26 New England Revolution 2–0 Colorado Rapids Foxborough, Massachusetts, U.S.
7:30 PM EDT Agudelo   12'
Tierney   49'
Report Cronin   22'
Badji   29'
MacMath   31'
Burling   90+3'
Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Attendance: 15,046
Referee: Alan Kelly
September 10, 2016 27 FC Dallas 0–1 Colorado Rapids Frisco, Texas, U.S.
8:00 PM CDT Urruti   90+6' Report Sjöberg   30'
Burch   51'
Badji   52'
Azira   68'
Hairston   81'
Stadium: Toyota Stadium
Attendance: 14,468
Referee: Robert Sibiga
September 17, 2016 28 Colorado Rapids 0–0 San Jose Earthquakes Commerce City, Colorado, U.S.
7:00 PM MDT Cronin   35'
Powers   38'
Sjöberg   38'
Report Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 17,645
Referee: Armando Villarreal
September 24, 2016 29 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3–3 Colorado Rapids Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
4:00 PM PDT Watson   51'   56'
Morales   70'
Harvey   74'
Laba   77'
Hurtado   90+3'
Report Badji   8'   87'
Azira   39'
Gashi   57' (pen.), 75'
Stadium: BC Place
Attendance: 21,851
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
October 1, 2016 30 Colorado Rapids 1–0 Portland Timbers Commerce City, Colorado, U.S.
6:00 PM PDT Badji   8'
Le Toux   63'   83'
MacMath   77'
Burch   78'
Cronin   90+1'
Williams   90+2'
Report Chara   38'
Adi   73'
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 17,554
Referee: Allen Chapman
October 8, 2016 31 Houston Dynamo 2–3 Colorado Rapids Houston, Texas, U.S.
7:30 PM CDT Manotas   45', 81'
Alex   90+1'
Report Badji   12', 54'
Gashi   79'
Cronin   83'
Azira   90+1'
Stadium: BBVA Compass Stadium
Attendance: 18,400
Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero
October 13, 2016 32 Colorado Rapids 2–1 San Jose Earthquakes Commerce City, Colorado, U.S.
7:00 PM MDT Doyle   38', 73' (pen.)   84' Report Wondolowski   57' (pen.)
Bernárdez   86'
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 13,516
Referee: Robert Sibiga
October 16, 2016 33 Portland Timbers 1–0 Colorado Rapids Portland, Oregon, U.S.
4:00 PM PDT Ridgewell   21'
Adi   35' (pen.)
Chara   50'
Andriuškevičius   90+5'
Report Calvert   26'
Williams   32'
Burling   33'
Azira   79'
Doyle   89'
Watts   90+3'
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 21,144
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
October 23, 2016 34 Colorado Rapids 1–1 Houston Dynamo Commerce City, Colorado, U.S.
2:00 PM MDT Gashi   67'
Burch   90+4'
Report Wenger   20'
García   74'
Williams   90+4'
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 18,446
Referee: Ismail Elfath

MLS Cup Playoffs

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Conference semifinals

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October 30, 2016 First leg LA Galaxy 1–0 Colorado Rapids Carson, California
Van Damme   45'
Giovani   55'
Cole   67'
Report Badji   12'
Watts   50'
Jones   60'
Stadium: StubHub Center
Attendance: 24,487
Referee: Drew Fischer
November 6, 2016 Second leg Colorado Rapids 1–0 (a.e.t.)
(1–1 agg.)
(3–1 p)
LA Galaxy Commerce City, Colorado, U.S.
12:00 PM MDT Gashi   36'
Cronin   57'
Report Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 17,782
Referee: Mark Geiger
Penalties
Doyle  
Le Toux  
Pappa  
  Gerrard
  Giovani
  Cole
  Larentowicz

Conference finals

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November 20, 2016 First leg Seattle Sounders FC 2–1 Colorado Rapids Seattle, Washington, U.S.
20:35 MST Morris   19'
Lodeiro   61' (pen.)
Report Doyle   13'   58'
Burch   34'
Cronin   67'
Stadium: CenturyLink Field
Attendance: 42,774
Referee: Chris Penso
November 27, 2016 Second leg Colorado Rapids 0–1 Seattle Sounders FC Commerce City, Colorado, U.S.
14:00 MST Burch   68' Report Torres   14'
Morris   56'
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 17,695
Referee: Ricardo Salazar

U.S. Open Cup

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Standings

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Western Conference standings

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Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 FC Dallas 34 17 8 9 50 40 +10 60 MLS Cup Conference Semifinals
2 Colorado Rapids 34 15 6 13 39 32 +7 58
3 LA Galaxy 34 12 6 16 54 39 +15 52 MLS Cup Knockout Round
4 Seattle Sounders FC 34 14 14 6 44 43 +1 48
5 Sporting Kansas City 34 13 13 8 42 41 +1 47
Source: MLS

Overall table

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Note: the table below has no impact on playoff qualification and is used solely for determining host of the MLS Cup, certain CCL spots, and 2016 MLS draft. The conference tables are the sole determinant for teams qualifying to the playoffs

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 FC Dallas (S) 34 17 8 9 50 40 +10 60 CONCACAF Champions League
2 Colorado Rapids 34 15 6 13 39 32 +7 58
3 New York Red Bulls 34 16 9 9 61 44 +17 57
4 New York City FC 34 15 10 9 62 57 +5 54
5 Toronto FC 34 14 9 11 51 39 +12 53 CONCACAF Champions League
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored;
(S) Supporters' Shield

Statistics

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Goals and assists

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No. Pos. Name MLS MLS Cup U.S. Open Cup Total
Goals Assists Goals Assists Goals Assists Goals Assists
11 FW Shkëlzen Gashi 9 4 1 0 0 0 10 4
14 FW Dominique Badji 6 4 0 0 1 0 7 4
9 FW Kevin Doyle 6 2 0 0 0 0 6 2
94 MF Marlon Hairston 3 6 0 0 0 1 3 7
13 MF Jermaine Jones 3 2 0 0 0 0 3 2
FW Luis Solignac 3 2 0 0 0 0 3 2
10 MF Marco Pappa 2 4 0 0 0 0 2 4
44 DF Axel Sjöberg 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 1
17 MF Dillon Serna 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
8 MF Dillon Powers 1 4 0 0 0 1 1 5
6 MF Sam Cronin 1 3 0 1 0 0 1 4
7 MF Sébastien Le Toux 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 2
23 DF Bobby Burling 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
5 DF Mekeil Williams 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 4
5 DF Marc Burch 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 3
26 DF Dennis Castillo 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
3 DF Eric Miller 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
42 MF Micheal Azira 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1

References

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  1. ^ "Players". Colorado Rapids. Retrieved February 1, 2016.