By Favian Renkel
The Colorado Rapids return to action for their second match of the 2025 Leagues Cup campaign, hosting Liga MX side Club Tijuana at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. local time and will be broadcast on Apple TV.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
- 1st matchup all-time
- The first matchup will be played in Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO
- Record at Leagues Cup: Rapids (6-4), Tjuana (0-5)
LAST FIVE GAMES
- Colorado Rapids:
- 2 Wins, 1 Draw, 2 Losses
- Coming off comeback 2-1 win vs Santos Laguns
- Has scored nine goals in their previous five games
- Club Tijuana:
- 2 Wins, 1 Draw, 2 Losses
- Coming off 5-2 loss to LA Galaxy on Thursday
- Have conceded 10 goals in the last five games
MAIN STORYLINES
- Can the Rapids do enough in terms of goal differential to secure one of the top 4 spots in the Phase One standings?
- Will Chris Armas play an attack-minded squad?
- 16-year-old phenom, GIlberto Mora, was the story of the opening game for Tijuana. Can he do it again?
- Can Tijuana pull off an upset coming off such a wide loss?
- Will the weather and altitude affect a Tijuana side traveling to play in Colorado for the first time?
KEY FACTORS
- Colorado Rapids:
- Will Colorado try to run up the score for goal differential?
- Can Zack Steffen repeat his penalty shoutout performance from last years Leagues Cup?
- Can NYCFC run up the score for the much-needed Goal differential? ● Club Tijuana:
- Club Tijuana:
- Can Tijuana’s defense bounce back from allowing 5 goals in their last match versus the LA Galaxy?
- Will Gilberto Mora impress versus the Rapids?
- Can Tijuana grab their first win of Leagues Cup ever?
WHAT TO EXPECT?
Colorado Rapids Face Pivotal Leagues Cup Test Against Club Tijuana
With the tournament’s revamped format, every group-stage match carries added weight. The margin for error is slim, and goal differential could prove decisive in determining which teams advance from Phase 1 — especially if multiple sides finish with identical records. Colorado enters the match in a strong position after winning its opening game, and another victory would put the Rapids in prime position to move on. But staying perfect may not be enough; piling on goals could be fundamental.
While some MLS clubs opted to rotate in their tournament openers, Club Tijuana comes into this match at a crossroads. The Liga MX side suffered a 5-2 defeat to the LA Galaxy — one of the league’s lowest-ranked teams — in its opening match, raising serious questions about their form. Tijuana currently sits in the bottom half of the Liga MX table, and with only the top four Liga MX clubs advancing from Phase 1, pressure is mounting.
Tijuana head coach Sebastián “El Loco” Abreu, known for his audacious Panenka penalty that sent Uruguay past Ghana in the 2010 World Cup, faces a defining moment. Will Abreu embrace the bold, risk-taking identity that earned him his nickname? Or will he rotate his squad again and potentially bow out of the competition early? Fans will be eager to see how he approaches a must-win situation.
Colorado, meanwhile, is chasing a dream. Though the Rapids haven’t lifted the Leagues Cup yet, they’ve already secured a place in the CONCACAF Champions Cup thanks to one of the most impressive wins in club history — a penalty shootout triumph over Club América. That match, played at Dignity Health Sports Park in front of a pro-América crowd, saw goalkeeper Zack Steffen come up big. The Rapids silenced the heavily favored fans and walked away with a statement win.
One of the pivotal matchups to watch will be in the midfield, where Colorado’s Djordje Mihailovic — a proven playmaker — faces off against 16-year-old Mexican international Gilberto Mora, a rising star for Tijuana. Their battle could define the tempo and control of the game.
For the Rapids, it’s simple: win, score as many goals as possible, and hope other MLS teams falter. The opportunity to advance — and continue a historic run — is within reach.
With so much on the line, this matchup between Colorado and Tijuana promises intensity, urgency, and a clash of styles. For the Rapids, it’s a chance to build on momentum and inch closer to Leagues Cup glory. For Tijuana, it’s about survival and redemption. Whether it’s the boldness of Sebastián Abreu or the resilience of Zack Steffen, fans should expect a high-stakes encounter with everything to play for.
