The Colorado Rapids can end a lengthy winless run at BC Place Stadium on Saturday when they square off with the Vancouver Whitecaps on matchday 10 of the MLS campaign.
It has been over four years since the Burgundy Boys won a regular-season contest in Vancouver, defeating the Whitecaps 1-0 on Canada Day 2018.
Match preview
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We are a quarter of the way through the new season, and the Whitecaps are finding a way to earn results domestically, unbeaten in their previous six league fixtures after starting the year with consecutive losses.
Since a one-sided 5-0 triumph over CF Montreal on April Fool's, the Caps have cooled off in the attacking third, scoring just once in their last three matches in all competitions.
A 0-0 draw at Austin FC in their previous encounter two weeks ago extended the Whitecaps' shutout streak to three games in league play, equalling their mark from 2022, and should they manage another clean sheet this weekend, it would equal their longest such run without conceding in a single regular season since 2014 (four).
Although the zonal marking approach used by Vanni Sartini has been influential in the league of late, that type of defending has brought varied results for this team, particularly on the road, where it seems like that approach has stalled their fluidity when in possession, notably in Austin two weeks ago.
Seven of their 10 points this year have come under the dome at BC Place, including their only two victories so far, with Vancouver utilising that artificial turf to their advantage, adding some speedy attackers to the lineup.
The infusion of young blood in the squad has allowed them to have a more proactive approach instead of reactive, producing plenty of scoring chances with quick passes out from the back.
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Better late than never might be a good way to sum up the Rapids' form of late, as they claimed a single point with an injury-time goal for the second successive fixture, drawing St Louis City 1-1 last weekend.
All six of their goals domestically in 2023 have come in the second half, as their quality in front of goal has often let them down, particularly last week when they fired 13 efforts on target but failed to score until the latter stages.
The Burgundy Boys have been staring defeat in the face three times in their previous five fixtures and found a way back, claiming three points from losing positions this year.
Since dropping a 4-0 decision at the Seattle Sounders in their opening game of the campaign, Robin Fraser's men have settled down on the back end, conceding a goal or fewer in their last three road fixtures in this competition.
As mentioned, it has been quite some time since they have won a match in Vancouver, and they have rarely come away with anything in their recent visits to Canada, with their last road point versus their neighbours to the north coming at BC Place in June 2019 when they squandered a 2-0 lead, drawing the Caps 2-2.
Their current five-match unbeaten run has them 12th in the Western Conference, just a point back of a wildcard berth and two behind Vancouver, while a win or draw this weekend would mark their longest stretch without a defeat in this competition since claiming at least a point in 12 straight contests back in 2021.
On Wednesday, the Burgundy Boys took care of a pesky Northern Colorado Hailstorm side, scoring twice in the second half to break a deadlock, coming away with a 3-1 triumph in round three of that US Open Cup fixture.
Team News
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Andres Cubas could be a question mark for Vancouver in this encounter because of a right shoulder contusion, Alessandro Schopf might be available despite previously sustaining a left hamstring strain, while Sergio Cordova remains sidelined with the same issue but in his right hamstring and Max Anchor is out with a left shoulder sprain.
On Tuesday, Vancouver traded forward Cristian Dajome to DC United, receiving up to $550,000 (£440,973) in General Allocation Money in return.
Yohei Takaoka faced seven Austin shots in their last encounter and stopped them all after going two games without needing to make a save, while youngsters Simon Becher and Ali Ahmed were in the opening lineup for their last meeting for a third successive time in this competition.
A brace from Ryan Gauld was all the Whitecaps would need to capture this exact fixture last season (2-1), with Julian Gressel collecting an assist on his first.
Braian Galvan will be questionable for the Rapids due to a sore groin, Abraham Rodriguez and Moise Bombito are dealing with left knee strains, Cole Bassett has a problem in his left hamstring, Jack Price is out with an Achilles injury and the club parted ways with Dantouma Toure last week.
Before the end of the transfer window Colorado acquired Danny Leyva on loan from the Seattle Sounders for the rest of the season in exchange for $92,000 (£73,749) in General Allocation Money (GAM) and a third-round selection in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft.
In their draw against St Louis, Lalas Abubakar made his 100th start as a member of the Burgundy Boys, and Canadian Ralph Priso collected his first MLS assist.
Diego Rubio surpassed Marcelo Balboa for eighth in all-time assists for Colorado, while Michael Barrios notched the equaliser, having contributed 11 goals as a substitute with the team since 2021, one fewer than Dejan Joveljic of the Los Angeles Galaxy in that time.
Vancouver Whitecaps possible starting lineup:
Takaoka; Brown, Veselinovic, Blackmon, Martins; Gressel, Berhalter, Ahmed; Gauld; White, Becher
Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:
Yarbrough; Rosenberry, Abubakar, Maxso, Gersbach; Acosta, Ronan, Nicholson; Max, Rubio; Cabral
We say: Vancouver Whitecaps 2-0 Colorado Rapids
Takaoka was one of the top keepers in the J1 League last season, and he has been splendid of late domestically, giving the Caps a chance to earn several points, which could pay dividends as the campaign rolls along.
The Rapids are showing more attacking intent, but it remains the same old story of who is that number nine that can bury their chances, and it seems unlikely that problem will be solved come Saturday.
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Joel Lefevre
