VANCOUVER, BC – Colorado Rapids (9W-2L-6D) won just nine matches in all of 2015. They were the worst team in the Western Conference. And it wasn’t up for debate.
Oh, how times have changed. And fast.
It’s been a rapid rise (pun intended) for Colorado, who visit Vancouver Whitecaps FC (7W-8L-3D) on Saturday night at BC Place as the second-best team in Major League Soccer – having already matched their win total from a year ago with half the season still remaining.
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Here’s everything you need to know about the match.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
Saturday’s match kicks off a stretch of three straight home matches for Whitecaps FC, or four if you include the July 19 friendly vs. English Premier League club Crystal Palace FC, as well as the post-Octavio Rivero era in Vancouver.
It’s an important, stretch too.
The ‘Caps enter the weekend tied for the sixth and final playoff position in the Western Conference with a 7W-8L-3D record after a 2-0 loss at LA Galaxy on Monday night.
A visit from the all-of-a-sudden high flying Rapids could be just what the doctor ordered heading into the second half of the season.
COLORADO RAPIDS
The Rapids enter the weekend unbeaten in 12 MLS matches. It will be exactly three months since they’ve lost a league fixture come Saturday.
Not bad for a team that finished in the Western Conference basement a year ago.
So, how have they done it?
Offseason acquisition Jermaine Jones is the headliner – and his U.S. international teammate Tim Howard made his debut on Monday as well. But this has been a true team effort. Case in point: no Rapids player has scored more than three goals.
It’s their defensive play that has set them apart.
They’ve conceded a league-low 11 goals in 17 matches, six fewer than the next closest team, which has them on pace to set a new MLS record for fewest goals conceded per game.
KEY MATCHUPS
David Ousted (GK) vs. Tim Howard (GK): Those who have been paying attention the last few years know that Ousted is in the conversation for the top goalkeeper in MLS. His counterpart has a pretty good resume, too, having spent a decade with English Premier League side Everton FC. You probably won’t see a better goalkeeper battle this year.
Pedro Morales (M) vs. Jermaine Jones (M): Jones has been key to Colorado’s turnaround in 2016. He’s tied for the team lead in goals with three, and has a pair of assists, in just eight appearances. When Jones is on, so too are the Rapids. Morales has a similar effect on the ‘Caps, having recorded a team-high six goals and four assists thus far. The player who has a bigger impact on Saturday could go a long way in determining who comes out on top.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Record vs. Colorado Rapids in MLS: 5W-8L-1D
Record vs. Colorado at home: 4W-2L-1D
This will be the 15th all-time meeting between Vancouver and Colorado in MLS.
The Rapids won the season series last year with a 2W-1L-0D record, with each side winning their home matches, but Vancouver won the latest encounter 2-0 on September 19, 2015 at BC Place on the strength of a goal and an assist from Cristian Techera.
Be a part of the best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver! Whitecaps FC offer a flexible range of ticket products, including Half-Season Packs, 5-Packs, a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket, and single match tickets. For more information, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
