Whitecaps FC-Rapids Preview
The Vancouver Whitecaps have slumped since a fast start, and fatigue could also be a factor when they face the struggling but better-rested Colorado Rapids on Saturday night.
Coming off a Wednesday contest, the busy Whitecaps visit a Rapids club that hasn't played in more than two weeks - and has dominated the recent meetings at Dick's Park.
Vancouver (6-4-2) has been unable to recapture the form it displayed in opening 4-1-0. The Whitecaps beat lowly Philadelphia 3-0 on May 9 but then stumbled again in a 2-0 loss to Seattle last Saturday.
The Whitecaps gave up one goal during their four-game win streak March 14-April 4 but have allowed two goals three times in the past seven.
"We need to be better if we're going to be a top team in this league," coach Carl Robinson said. "We're a work in progress and we've got to continue to work every day on our patters of play and our attacking phases in the final third. Sometimes they come off and sometimes they don't. When they do, we're good to watch. When they don't, we're frustrating to watch."
A 2-1 win over FC Edmonton on Wednesday in a semifinal game of the Canadian Championship could provide a spark, though it could also leave Vancouver tired.
Saturday's game will be the Whitecaps' fourth in 11 days, while the Rapids (1-2-7) have not played since May 8 as their matchup with Sporting Kansas City last week was canceled due to inclement weather.
"They're very well rested. They haven't played in two weeks," Robinson said. "We played two games in five days. Some guys have played 90 minutes in both. We've got nothing to lose."
Colorado has toiled through four consecutive 1-all draws, the latest coming against San Jose. Two of those ties came at home, where the Rapids have not won in 11 tries and have allowed the opposition to record the first goal in the last four.
"With the altitude, we're at an advantage here," midfielder Sam Cronin said. "I think we just started a bit slow at home, and letting teams score first is problematic. The start is massive this weekend and the first goal is massive."
Colorado has gotten off to good starts in going 4-1-0 in its last five at home against Vancouver, scoring first in three of the wins. The Rapids took the last such matchup 2-0 on June 28, though the Whitecaps won 1-0 on Oct. 25 to avoid a third straight loss in the series.
The Rapids are 4-2-0 in the past six against Vancouver.
Colorado is tied for the fewest goals allowed in the league with nine, but ranks near the bottom of MLS with nine goals scored - four coming from Gabriel Torres.
This is the deepest into a season the Rapids have gone before earning their second victory.
"The reality is, you get what you deserve and what you earn," Cronin said. "We haven't found the net or kept teams out of our goal. We are where we are and that's fine. We still have plenty of time. We just have to make sure every performance is positive and getting better each week."
Vancouver got goals from Pedro Morales and Matias Laba on Wednesday. Morales and Octavio Rivero, who leads the team with six goals, scored in the win over Philadelphia.