COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Realistically, the 18 players that dress for the Colorado Rapids for MLS Cup this Sunday already know who they are. Barring injuries, it’s not all that difficult to predict who will start and who will be on the bench.
But there’s a different feel to this road trip for the Rapids. The club is chartering their own plane for Thursday’s trip to Toronto and the whole roster will be on it, along with Rapids’ staff and players’ family members.
That feeling of one family working together and the inclusion of all the players will be front and center for the Rapids, who won’t leave any players waiting around at home like the typical regular-season road trip.
Rookie forward and Harvard alum Andre Akpan, for one, is delighted to be making the trip. Akpan has made just one MLS appearance as a late second half substitute in 3-0 victory over Chivas USA at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Sept. 4. He logged 13 minutes in that game and logged some appearances during the US Open Cup.
“It’s been quite an experience in my first year to have had this much success,” Akpan told MLSsoccer.com this week. “It does make it a little easier not having all that much playing time.”
Akpan said he has enjoyed his first professional season and probably has to pinch himself after making the jump from a college player last year to being on the verge of an MLS Cup.
“Hopefully, we will pull it off and that will help me for next season,” he said. “This is a whole different level and it’s exciting to be here.”
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