December 11th 2024.
The Colorado Rapids are gearing up for an exciting year ahead as they prepare for the 2025 season. With their first action already scheduled, the club has wasted no time in announcing their list of protected players for the upcoming expansion draft. This draft, which will take place on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., will see San Diego FC select players from existing MLS clubs to build their own team.
In total, the Rapids have selected 12 players to be protected, including the newest additions to their roster, Chidozie Awaziem and Ian Murphy. However, there were also five players who had to be left vulnerable to San Diego FC, including Andreas Maxsø, Daniel Chacón, Nate Jones, Jasper Löffelsend, and Omir Fernández. While the decision to leave some of these players unprotected may come as a surprise to some fans, the chances of them being selected by SDFC are relatively low due to the large pool of available players in the league.
Additionally, the Rapids have also announced that some players, such as Lalas Abubakar, Jonathan Lewis, Ethan Bandré, and Rémi Cabral, will not be returning to the team as their contracts have expired or their options have been declined. Despite this, the team remains confident that their new signings and future targets will help supplement any potential losses.
In other news, the Rapids have also been drawn to face off against LAFC in the first round of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. This is the first time since 2022 that the team has earned a spot in the tournament, after their third-place finish in the 2024 Leagues Cup. While recent history may not be in their favor when it comes to facing off against LAFC, the Rapids are determined to turn the tides and come out on top.
The black and gold last participated in the CCC in 2023, where they narrowly lost in the final to Liga MX's Club León. In 2022, they were eliminated in the round of 16 by Guatemalan club Comunicaciones. The tournament is set to begin in February, with the winner of the Rapids vs LAFC match facing off against the 2023 MLS Cup champion and 2024 Leagues Cup winner, Columbus Crew.
It's an exciting time for the Rapids and their fans as they look forward to the upcoming season and all the potential opportunities it holds. Make sure to stay updated with all the latest sports news by signing up for the Sports Omelette newsletter.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
