Rapids Sign Opare & Final Preseason Result

The long rumored signing of Kofi Opare was made official today as he signed a one year deal with the team  His addition gives us needed depth as center back as Ford and Smith both look likely to be unavailable this weekend.  It also gives us 27 signed players with only draftee Jacob Hauser-Ramsey left in camp unsigned (other than the Academy players).  If he's going to be signed I'm guessing we'll hear in the next couple of days.

Beyond that we should expect a couple of more roster moves this week seeing that we're at 8 internationals against 6 international slots.  We're going to need to move some players, trade for some slots, or get some green cards to make our roster compliant by the end of the week.  If I had to bet I expect a green card will come through soon and I wouldn't be shocked if we buy an international out of a contract by the end of the week.

Also this weekend the Rapids played their last preseason game, against the Galaxy.  They easily handled the Galaxy 3-1, with a goal by Kamara and two by Rubio (Zlatan got LA's goal).  The starting lineup was:

Kamara - Rubio

Feilhaber

Mezquida - Acosta

Bassett

Serna - Wynne - Sjoberg - Rosenbery

Howard

Expected starters Vines, Smith, and Ford were out due to injury.  No word as to why Price didn't play.  Blomberg, Shinyashiki, and Nicolson came on as subs.  I would expect a similar lineup on Saturday against Portland, with Price playing in Bassett's place.

The next morning the reserves played LA and got the reverse score with the Rapids goal scored by Nikki Jackson.  Irwin and Vines, both expected to miss these games, started.  Vines went 50 minutes before being replaced by Hauser-Ramsey and Irwin played the whole game.  Wilson, Blomberg, Boateng, Hundley, Jackson, and Shinyashiki were the other signed players to get time (all went 90).

Gashi, Opare, Price, and Rawls were the only signed players not listed as injured who got no playing time between the games.  Rawls as the third keeper is no surprise but I'm not sure what that means about the other three.  Opare was just signed so obviously the lack of playing time wasn't hurting him, but I'm not sure why Price and Gashi got no time.