Colorado Rapids vs Sporting Kansas City Preview, Prediction, H2H, Lineups & Team News | MLS

Colorado Rapids vs Sporting Kansas City Preview, Prediction, Head to Head Analysis, Team News and Possible Lineups – Friday, July 5th, 2025 | MLS 2025.

 

Match Details

• Fixture: Colorado Rapids vs Sporting Kansas City

• Competition: Major League Soccer (Regular Season)

• Date: July 5, 2025

• Time: 2:30 AM (UK)

• Venue: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Colorado

The spirit of American Independence Day will once again set the stage for a captivating MLS encounter as Colorado Rapids host Sporting Kansas City at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. These two Western Conference rivals are no strangers to drama on the Fourth of July, and this year’s fixture promises more fireworks, both literally and figuratively.

Current Standings & Context

As the season edges toward its second half, both teams find themselves in contrasting positions on the league table. Colorado Rapids currently sit eighth in the Western Conference, well within playoff contention, while Sporting Kansas City are 12th, trailing six points behind their upcoming hosts.

Colorado are coming off a dramatic 3-3 draw against the New England Revolution, a match where they shockingly surrendered a 3-0 lead. Meanwhile, Sporting Kansas City showed resilience, fighting back to draw 1-1 with Real Salt Lake. Both clubs are looking to build consistency as the playoff race heats up.

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Match Preview

Colorado Rapids: Searching for Stability

Chris Armas’ Colorado side has shown flashes of brilliance in 2025 but has struggled with consistency—especially when protecting leads. Their most recent outing perfectly epitomized their campaign: a blistering first-half performance undone by second-half frailty.

After going up 3-0 against the Revs, they allowed their opponents to claw back and salvage a draw. That game marked the fourth time this season the Rapids have dropped points after leading at halftime. Despite this, they remain relatively strong when they do take the lead at the break, holding a 4-1-1 record in such scenarios.

A notable trend in their season is the vulnerability just before halftime. Of the 28 goals they’ve conceded in 2025, 11 have come between the 31st and 45th minutes—an alarming pattern that teams are beginning to exploit.

Home Form: Fortress or Fluctuation?

At home, Colorado have been a mixed bag. When they win, they tend to shut out their opposition, as evidenced by their three clean-sheet victories since May. However, in their last three home defeats, they’ve failed to find the net, underlining their inconsistent attacking displays at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

That said, they boast a perfect home record against Sporting Kansas City on Independence Day, winning all three July 4th meetings—most recently with a 2-1 victory in 2024.

Sporting Kansas City: A Revival Underway?

Sporting Kansas City are in the early stages of a transformation. Since longtime head coach Peter Vermes stepped down, interim boss Kerry Zavagnin has implemented a more adventurous and attacking style of play. The results have been promising: 25 goals in 13 MLS matches since April make them one of the highest-scoring teams in that span.

Their fighting spirit has been a highlight under Zavagnin. They have managed to come from behind in five of their last eight league matches, including their 1-1 draw with RSL last weekend. The hallmark of this new-look SKC is their late-game potency. Nearly half (15 of 31) of their goals in 2025 have come after the 60-minute mark.

On the road, Sporting Kansas have taken points in three of their last four MLS outings. A win in Colorado would not only prevent them from matching their longest losing streak away under Zavagnin but also give them a morale-boosting result against a playoff contender.

Head-to-Head Record

This rivalry has provided its fair share of fireworks over the years:

• Last 5 Meetings:

  • Apr 2024: Sporting Kansas City 4-1 Colorado Rapids

  • Jul 2024: Colorado Rapids 2-1 Sporting Kansas City

  • Oct 2023: Colorado Rapids 1-0 Sporting Kansas City

  • May 2023: Sporting Kansas City 3-2 Colorado Rapids

  • Jul 2022: Colorado Rapids 2-0 Sporting Kansas City

Recent history leans slightly in favor of Colorado Rapids, particularly at home, where they’ve enjoyed strong results. However, Sporting did produce a dominant 4-1 victory the last time the two met, albeit at Children’s Mercy Park.

Team News

Colorado Rapids

Injuries have been an issue for the Rapids in recent weeks. Key players like Cole Bassett, Alex Harris, and Djordje Mihailovic were all absent from the squad due to ankle problems during the draw with New England. First-choice goalkeeper Zack Steffen and defender Ali Fadal are also sidelined with knee injuries.

Despite the injury concerns, Colorado found the net three times against the Revolution. Calvin Harris, Rafael Navarro, and Theodore Ku-Dipietro were all on the scoresheet, though an unfortunate own goal by Samuel Vines helped trigger the opposition’s comeback.

Possible Starting XI (Colorado Rapids):

• GK: Hansen

• DEF: Cannon, Maxsø, Awaziem, Murphy

• MID: Harris, Larraz, Atencio, Ku-Dipietro

• FWD: Navarro, Cabral

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting were also shorthanded last weekend. Defender Robert Voloder is out with a clavicle injury, while Daniel Rosero (ankle) and Nemanja Radoja (quad) are doubtful. Jake Davis will miss this match through suspension after receiving a red card in their last game.

Erik Thommy, the versatile German midfielder, was the hero against RSL, scoring his third goal of the season just before the hour mark. His experience and creativity in midfield could prove pivotal again.

Possible Starting XI (Sporting Kansas City):

• GK: Pulskamp

• DEF: Shelton, Miller, James, Ndenbe

• MID: Garcia, Bartlett, Rodriguez

• FWD: Thommy, Joveljic, Salloi

Key Players to Watch

• Calvin Harris (Colorado Rapids): With Cole Bassett and Mihailovic injured, Harris has stepped up with vital contributions. His pace and creativity on the wings will be crucial.

• Erik Thommy (Sporting Kansas City): The German midfielder is becoming a consistent threat in the final third and has an eye for goal, particularly in clutch moments.

• Rafael Navarro (Colorado Rapids): His positioning and finishing will be important, especially against a Sporting defense that has struggled with late-game organization.

• Dejan Joveljic (Sporting Kansas City): The Serbian striker is still settling in but shows flashes of brilliance with his movement and composure in front of goal.

Tactical Insights

Colorado Rapids are expected to line up in a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1, relying on quick transitions and direct wing play. Armas prefers compact defensive lines but allows freedom for wide players to exploit space behind the opposition defense.

Sporting, meanwhile, may opt for a more fluid 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, with fullbacks pushing forward and Thommy acting as the creative hub in midfield. Zavagnin has emphasized quick interchanges and an aggressive press, especially in the second half.

Prediction

Given Sporting Kansas City’s improved attacking form and Colorado’s tendency to falter late in games, this contest is poised to be tight. Both teams have goal-scoring threats but also defensive vulnerabilities.

While Colorado’s home record and past Independence Day performances tilt the scales in their favor, SKC’s momentum and newfound resilience cannot be overlooked.

Predicted Score: Colorado Rapids 1-2 Sporting Kansas City

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Final Thoughts

This matchup is more than just a regular season fixture—it’s a test of character and momentum. Colorado will be eager to rectify their collapse against the Revs, while Sporting Kansas City aim to continue their attacking revival under Kerry Zavagnin.

Expect a fiery contest filled with emotion, late drama, and goals—a perfect celebration of Independence Day for MLS fans.