When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Yankee Stadium
TV/Radio: Altitude, AM 950
Spotlight on Frank Lampard
A legendary figure in English soccer, the midfielder agreed in July 2014 to join New York City FC as a designated player, but didn’t make his debut with the expansion MLS side until August 2015 after going on loan at NYCFC’s parent club, Manchester City. Lampard has five goals and an assist this season, helping power NYCFC to first place in the Eastern Conference. His goal total is second on the team behind David Villa (13). The 38-year-old scored 29 goals for the England national team in 106 career appearances, but has since retired from international soccer. The 6-foot, 202-pound Lampard is the all-time leading scorer at Chelsea FC, with 211 goals in 648 appearances.
Notebook
Rapids: Colorado (10-2-8, 38 points) is in second place in the Western Conference, but first in MLS in points per game (1.9). The Rapids are riding a franchise-best 15-game league unbeaten streak (8-0-7) after settling for a 1-1 draw at home against league-leading FC Dallas last weekend. Colorado’s last MLS loss came April 9. The Rapids have allowed the fewest goals per game in MLS (0.70). … Colorado has been without midfielder Jermaine Jones in its last three league games, after he picked up a knee injury in a scoreless draw against Portland on July 4. Jones was Colorado’s lone representative at Thursday’s MLS All-Star Game, but did not play. Jones and defender Mekeil Williams are listed on the Rapids’ injury report with “undisclosed injuries.” … Midfielder Marlon Hairston has forced his way into the lineup of late and has scored in each of his last two games. … The Rapids are without Sean St. Ledger and Dillon Serna, both out with knee injuries.
NYCFC: Eastern Conference-leading New York City FC (9-7-6, 33 points) will be without a few key players and coach Patrick Vieira, who was ejected during the first half of a 4-1 loss at New York Red Bulls last weekend. Top-scorer Villa is suspended for the match because of yellow-card accumulation. Villa and midfielder Andrea Pirlo on Thursday started for the MLS all-stars, each playing just more than 30 minutes. City will also be without fullbacks Ethan White (red card) and R.J. Allen (yellow cards), and midfielder Federico Bravo (yellow cards).
Footnotes: Yankee Stadium is the smallest soccer field in MLS, measuring at 110 yards long and 70 yards wide. It’s the smallest allowed by FIFA rules. NYCFC has had trouble on its home pitch, with a 3-3-5 record in the Bronx. This will be Colorado’s first-ever visit to Yankee Stadium and the only meeting of these sides this year. The Rapids and NYCFC played to a scoreless draw at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park last year.
