Colorado Rapids vs Portland Timbers | Feb. 28th, 2026 - Match Preview

After a hectic season opener on the road against the Seattle Sounders, the Colorado Rapids return to Dick's Sporting Goods Park to play in their home opener against another team from Cascadia: the Portland Timbers. The 2-0 road loss featured low points, but head coach Matt Wells' comments in the post-match press conference have left fans both eagerly and anxiously waiting for Colorado's next match. Will the team bounce back? What does Wells actually want the team to look like? And who else will surprise in the Starting XI? All that and more on this Box State Footy Game Preview.

Rapids Report

Last Match: Seattle Sounders 2 - 0 Colorado Rapids

On the road at Lumen Field, the Rapids sure did look like a team who returned about 55% of their total minutes from last season. The below graph has the Rapids at 58.5% but following Sam Vines waive and subsequent buy-out, the figure dropped just a tad bit.

The most notable change was Colorado's insistent commitment to playing out of the back. Australian center back Lucas Herrington was the most composed out of the entire Rapids backline and impressed in his debut. His start ahead of Rob Holding left many bewildered, however, Measuring 2026 xPectations readers knew of this potential possibility.

I was certainly amused once the lineup was announced. It was a bold decision, and while it didn't lead to a favorable result, Herrington rose to the occasion and showed out. Very excited to see his progression throughout the season.

Unfortunately, that is where the praise ends from a Starting XI standpoint. It wouldn't be until much later where we'd see some positive movement from Theodore Ku-DiPietro, Keegan Rosenberry, and Alex Harris, but the match and game state had largely been decided. Seattle was willing to welcome whatever Colorado had to throw at them.

There's a lot of issues still persistent with the team. Head coach Matt Wells remarked on these issues:

The concern for me first half was how we showed up; our performance. Didn't recognize it all. Not seen elements of that even in our training... We want to be a pressing team and I didn't see any pressing first half. The two times we arrived on the press they gave the ball away and even then we were pretty half-hearted. I was not impressed with that. Neither was I impressed with our buildup... Second half was marginally better...at least it was a poor imitation of ourselves but at least I recognized it. -Matt Wells

Ouch. "Half-hearted", "not impressed", and "poor." He's not wrong, though. The Rapids press was disjointed, they were shaky when it came to implementing their style, Hamzat Ojediran dropped to play as a third CB in possession and lacked the "destroying" aspect of his game, Dante Sealy was clamped consistently by Seattle's backline, Darren Yapi's wing play was nonexistent, Josh Atencio lacked midfield bite and chased the game, Reggie Cannon turned off defensively on Rothrock's assist, Paxten Aaronson was rarely a useful outlet for the center backs and overturned the ball for Seattle's second goal, and Rafael Navarro's play on the ball and in the attack was not worthy of a DP contract.

You could point the finger at anyone for the Rapids' poor performance but what remains is collectively it looked off. We've finally seen what a Matt Wells team looks like, but besides initial chemistry and cohesion, what remains true is the team is still far from their Best XI.

Opposition Scouting Report

Last Match: Portland Timbers 3 - 2 Columbus Crew

It's no secret that the Timbers have consistently had the Rapids' number over the past few seasons. The catalyst seemingly being the 2021 Thanksgiving Playoff game; the club has been in free fall ever since those heights. Colorado's record against Portland since that match stands at 2W - 1D - 6L across all competitions; The dynamic Brazilian winger, Antony, scored in five of those matches.

Cole Bassett was traded to the Timbers in typical Rapids shock-move fashion. Pundits around the league are projecting this to be a front office miscalculation; a move the team is sure to regret in due time. Bassett still has his prime years ahead of him and Portland will have a willing table setter in their midfield for the years to come.

The 2025 and 2024 versions of Cole Bassett were vastly different. In '24, Bassett was hailed for his strong work rate in midfield, his ability to arrive with the ball into attacking spaces, and his savvy work to find threats in the attack. In '25, he was shoe-horned into the attack where all the space he was allowed in midfield, to be dynamic and progress the ball, had eluded him. His technical ability and attacking threat was lacking further up the pitch and now on Portland he'll be put in a prime position to succeed.

Bassett joins a Portland midfield as a willing runner and table setter. Next to him is MLS legend Diego Chara (still playing at 40 years old!) who will plug holes in the middle and allow Bassett to do Bassett things. Ahead of Basset, however, is a front midfield three of Kristoffer Velde, Felipe Mora, and the aforementioned Antony. Mora was converted from a striker down to a no. 10, only temporarily whilst David da Costa returns from injury. In Velde and Antony, Portland have two very keen attacking players who each play well with the ball, always playing towards goal, and have some speed. They will be serious problems for fullbacks across the league with Bassett setting them up.

Reserve player Gage Guerra started in Portland's opener ahead of their U22 signing Kevin Kelsy. Guerra, who recorded 171 minutes last season, was not particularly impressive in his first start this season, but until da Costa returns from injury, the striker position is up for grabs. Guerra made a strong attempt at claiming the starting role, but I wouldn't be surprised if we see the more promising Kelsy start or Ariel Lassiter who came off the bench (and scored) claim the start this weekend.

Defensively, the Timbers upgraded their defense with an Australian center back of their own: Alex Bonetig. The defender from Down Under was brought in following Kamal Miller's up and down form playing alongside Finn Surman for much of Portland's season last year. Miller was so uninspiring for the Timbers that it wasn't long until Dario Župarić was the starter for them throughout late Spring and Summer all the way through to the playoffs. Miller had his moments, but between he and Župarić, it was clear a change was needed. Bonetig has great ball carrying ability and should add a certain x-factor to the Timbers' progression phase of their game.

A final aspect of their defensive game I'd like to touch on is Jimer Fory who will be very difficult to get past. Fory has yet to lose against the Rapids and depending on who gets the start, they're going to have to outwork one of the more rugged and defensively stout full backs in the Western Conference. It's going to be a long day on that right wing for the Rapids.

For more Timbers insights, Jeremy Peterman (featured in the emergency pod above) is your guy! Avid Box State Footy listeners are very aware of Jeremy. He helps run Cascadia FC and his Timbers coverage is honestly out of this world. Jeremy will be in Colorado for an away day of his own so be sure to say hello!

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Quality football news, analysis, and stories from the heart of the Pacific Northwest

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You can find Jeremy's MLS takes on our league podcast Outside the Box.

Match Preview

There's a lot of questions for both teams and it's only natural given how early we are in the season. This team's quality won't be evident without more sample sizes. I really don't get an Anthony Hudson vibe, at all, from Wells and despite the very blunt analysis of his team in the post-match presser, it's now on the players to answer the criticisms with a strong performance in front of the home fans. There's still some lingering ambiguity about what Wells' tactical ideas are. We know he wants the team to play it out of the back, but after that where does the play go? What happens if Aaronson gets frozen out of the attacking phases again? What will the XI look like this time around? Who are going to be the water carriers on this team?

For Portland, their midfield is still being propped up by Chara and a defensively limited Bassett. Can the Rapids find the space in midfield behind Portland's double pivot to create threatening attacks? There was limited attacking phases for the Rapids in the opener, it's not entirely evident that the attacking quality is there if the team do get in to these positions. They must be sharper in the attack if they wish to get past a Timbers' team who's defense, while not perfect and sure to have some flaws throughout the season, looks like top quality stacked up against this Rapids attack.

Whoever starts up top for Portland will have to be a willing presser if Colorado are to remain playing as patiently as they have been out of the back. Guerra is the hardest working of the striker core, but the least impressive in terms of goalscoring ability. If he scores, it'll be a goal he has to work hard for so it's on the Rapids to ensure they limit mistakes across the back. Velde and Antony remain threats in the attack and I'm not sure how equipped the full back core is to deal with their tenacity and aggressive attacking play. This is where Colorado's double pivot (or single, wouldn't mind seeing a single pivot) need to be active and limit any chances either of these two players get on the ball. Felipe Mora, despite being out of position, could be a threat in midfield and whoever steps up to him will need to be precise in their defensive moments; it may end up becoming a team effort.

Availability Report:

Projected XI's:

Score Prediction: Colorado Rapids 1 - 1 Portland Timbers

Another loss for Colorado could really complicate things early on. The Timbers are in fine position to earn a road draw after their showing at home last weekend and if they can't catch Colorado off guard at altitude, I'm thinking they'll play for the draw. I think this game will be a better embodiment of what Wells-ball is likely to be, but the attack remains a sore spot and unless they get plenty of reps in, Portland's defense should hold enough to thwart Colorado's lackluster attacking quality.

Though, attacking quality can be supplemented with a much more organized press and clinical goalscoring in front of net. A late 2-1 Rapids winner is not entirely out of the question here either.