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Vancouver-Colorado preview

Colorado, owner of the stingiest defense in the MLS, suffered a stunning 5-1 loss to New York City in its last outing, ending the Rapids' franchise-record 15-game unbeaten streak.

They will look to bounce back from that humbling defeat Saturday, when the Vancouver Whitecaps visit Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo.

"You've got to take something from every loss," Colorado coach Pablo Mastroeni told the team's website. "Every loss has a good learning moment or moments that you have to take in and make sure you evaluate. This is not different."

The Rapids (10-3-8, 38 points) have only one win in their last six outings and have dropped into second place in the Western Conference standings. The five goals they gave up to New York City were a season-high. But Mastroeni believes his team will rebound.

"Listen, we're still second in the league We're in a great position. It's one game," Mastroeni said. "A lot of the things that happened that game were under our control. So it's about identifying that, taking responsibility for it and really moving forward as a group.

"The most important game of the season is Vancouver," he added. "It's about approaching that game with 100 percent energy, focus, concentration and commitment to make sure we get maximum points. They're a very a dynamic team on the attack. They pose a lot of threats. Defensively, they're sound. They're well organized, well coached. For us, it's about imposing our style of play on them and come out with the right mindset. If we do those things, we'll put our self in great position."

Vancouver (8-9-6) sits in sixth place, just above the red line on the Eastern Conference table with 30 points. The Whitecaps have not scored in their last two MLS games, but did manage a pair of goals in a 2-2 draw versus Colorado on July 10. Midfielder Pedro Morales leads Vancouver with six goals.

The Rapids enter Saturday's game short-handed. Midfielder Michael Azira was issued a red card against New York and will set out against Vancouver, and Jermaine Jones remains out with a knee injury.

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