COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — As traditional “Rapids” scarves were held high and drums beat in the southern section of the stands, chants echoed throughout the park on Saturday afternoon, helping celebrate a home opener win for the Colorado Rapids as they defeated the Portland Timbers 2-0 .
Like the majority of Rapids games, fireworks, pyrotechnics and additional special effects helped welcome the team to the pitch – along with the introduction of the Rapids’ “first oar captain of 2026,” Jeremy Scanlon, a long-standing tradition.
However, many new additions to the park were apparent, ranging from new murals, books and deals in addition to a new attitude and outlook for the soccer club.
The Rapids opened the gate at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park with an early save in the third minute by senior goalkeeper and captain Zack Steffen, defending a shot from his former teammate Cole Bassett, who left the Rapids earlier this month after being with the team since 2018.
Both Steffen and Timbers goalkeeper James Pantemis were faced with heavy offensive lineups from the start, both saving numerous shots in the first half alone and a total of 11 saves combined throughout the match.
However, things changed in the seventh minute when Rapids central midfielder Hamzat Ojediran scored a long-distance goal to the lower right zone of the net, assisted by Jackson Travis and Paxten Aaronson, to bring the Rapids into the lead.
Ojediran, who was acquired from French Ligue 1 side RC Lens earlier this year is expected to bring large contributions to the Rapids and is “under contract through the 2028-29 MLS season, with options through 2030-31,“ according to the MLS Transfer Tracker.
“I am happy to join the Rapid(s) family, so it is happiness from the start,” Ojediran said. “I want to enjoy every moment here.”
Alongside Ojediran, stand-out players for Colorado include striker Rafael Navarro (the team’s top returning scorer), right wing Dante Sealy and 18-year-old center back Lucas Herrington, who helped solidify the team’s lead quickly in the second half by scoring a header from the center of the box in the 53rd minute, assisted by Sealy, making the score 2-0.
The match marks many firsts for numerous team members, including Herrington’s first MLS goal since he joined the team from Australia. In addition to both the first MLS win and home for the newly appointed Rapids head coach Matthew “Matt” Wells, who comes to the team from an assistant coaching position at Tottenham Hotspur in London, England.
“Every game is tough, every game (is going to be) difficult,” Wells said, as he and the team come off a loss earlier this week against the Seattle Sounders. “It is a lot closer to the team we want to be.”
Following the second goal, numerous Rapids substitutions were made, allowing for strikers Wayne Fredrick and Darren Yapi to enter the game and help sustain the team’s shut out lead.
Though simultaneously subbing out numerous players during the second half, the Rapids coaching staff are adamant to see what numerous young players do, including left back Jackson Travis and left wing Alex Harris, who made his first 2026 start with the club.
“I am really impressed with (Jackson). I like his fearlessness, his mentality. Hope is contagious, and it rubs off on other people,” Wells said. “It is exactly what we need as a club.”
Additionally, substitutes for the Rapids included Keegan Rosenberry, Connor Ronan and Ted Ku-DiPietro. Whereas the Timbers substituted starting players for Kamal Miller, Ariel Lassiter, Kevil Kelsy and Ian Smith before being faced with an immediate ejection of left back Jimer Fory following receiving a red card.
Fory was given the immediate red card for fouling Paxten Aaronson in the 77th minute and caused the team to play with one less player for the remainder of the game. Fory will face suspension from their upcoming match vs. Vancouver on March 7, 2026.
Though the Timbers led the match in fouls, contributing 15 and two additional yellow cards, given to goalkeeper James Pantemis and midfielder captain Diego Chara, Rapids players contributed an additional 12 with two yellow cards as well – given to Josh Atencio and Lucas Herrington.
Despite the foul, Lucas Herrington was awarded the HCA HealthONE Rocky Mountain Children’s Man of the Match. Totaling 90 minutes and 1 attacking assist, leading the team with 67 completed passes and a passing percentage of 95.7%.
Though remaining scoreless, Timbers player Alex Bonetig produced similar stats with 64 completed passes and a passing percentage of 92.8%. Despite only having 33 completed passes despite playing 90 minutes, Coloradoan Cole Bassett made moves to establish his homecoming.
Basset, a well-known name to the Rapids program, was traded to the Timbers organization for a minimum of $2.65 million in an announcement from the club at the beginning of February. Growing up in Littleton, Colorado and attending Chatfield High School, both he and his older brother Sam signed homegrown player contracts, marking them as the 20th pair of brothers to be featured on the same MLS roster and the second in club history according to the organization.
In his time at the Rapids, Bassett recorded 31 goals and 21 assists among 172 appearances. In addition to leaving numerous age related club records and well-known stats, such as being the youngest player to appear in a complete match (17 years and 77 days), a tie for sixth highest number of club goals, among many other record-breaking numbers.
The park recorded attendance slightly over 16,000, including Amy Bassett (Cole and Sam’s mother), who was gifted numerous framed photographs from supporters of her sons.
Looking forward, the Colorado Rapids return to DICK’S Sporting Goods Park at 7:30 p.m on March 7, where they are set to kick off against the LA Galaxy, who face Charlotte for one remaining match before making their way to the mile high.
“I think it is going to be a good one,” Ojediran said. “Time to focus on the next game.”
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