The Vancouver Whitecaps play their last home match until August on Saturday night when they host the Colorado Rapids.
The Whitecaps (7-1-0, 21 points), who are second in the Western Conference and the league overall behind only San Jose (24 points), will play their next eight matches in a row on the road as their home pitch, BC Place, undergoes preparations to host seven FIFA World Cup matches. Vancouver’s next home MLS match won’t be until Aug. 1 against Los Angeles FC.
The Whitecaps have made the most of their unbalanced schedule, which has seen them play seven of their first eight matches at home. Vancouver has gone 6-1-0 at home, losing only 1-0 to San Jose back on March 21, and brings in a three-game win streak, outscoring its opponents 8-2 during that span.
Vancouver enters the weekend tied with the Earthquakes, who have played one more match, for the league lead in goals scored (22) and goal differential (plus-18). Forward Brian White (six goals), former Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller (four goals) and U.S. national Sebastian Berhalter (three goals) lead the team in scoring.
Colorado (4-4-1, 13 points) has been one of the league’s most improved teams. The Rapids are in seventh place and have gone 1-1-1 in their last three matches.
After blowing out Houston 6-2 and losing a tightly contested match with defending MLS Cup champions Inter Miami 3-2, before 75,824 at Empower Field at Mile High, the Rapids pulled out a 0-0 draw at Los Angeles FC on Wednesday.
“They’ve been looking very, very good, and have grown from game to game,” Vancouver coach Jesper Sorensen said. “They changed up a lot of stuff since last season. I think looking to head in a good direction. Obviously, we’d like to make them look a little worse than they did (at LAFC), but that’s up to us.”
Lionel Messi scored twice to lead Inter Miami past the Rapids but Colorado finished with 61.9% possession and a 14-5 edge in shot attempts. The Rapids also dominated possession in the draw with LAFC, finishing with a huge 72.5% to 27.5% advantage.
“Another very high-level, technical performance by us,” Rapids coach Matt Wells said of the draw. “I thought we played with personality, played with courage, just like we did against Miami. … We’re showing we’re definitely a different team than we’ve been in the past.”
–Field Level Media
