Whitecaps vs Rapids Preview by Chris Brown
On Saturday Vancouver Whitecaps welcome Colorado Rapids to British Columbia at BC Place for a clash between Western Conference rivals.
Tim Howard will play his second game as a Rapid and his first match on the road for Colorado. (Photo Credit: Corbin Elliott)
Vancouver currently occupy the sixth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, sitting on 24 points. After falling 2-0 to LA Galaxy last weekend and losing three of their last five matches, the Whitecaps will look to recover against Tim Howard and the Rapids.
Colorado slipped from first place in the Western Conference and Supporter’s Shield standings last week when they only managed a scoreless draw against Portland. The scoreless draw was Colorado’s second scoreless draw in a row and the meager return on points means that FC Dallas moved to the pinnacle of the table, just ahead of Colorado and their 33 points.
Carl Robinson’s Whitecaps side is missing several players through injury. Marco Bustos (eye), Christian Dean (knee) Russell Teibert (quad) and Masato Kudo (jaw) are all missing in action for Vancouver.
Pablo Mastroeni ‘s squad is mostly healthy but the Rapids will be without Sean St. Ledger, Dillon Serna and Bobby Burling, all three suffering from knee aliments. Burling has been the only consistent starter this season for Colorado and Rapids fans won’t have to wait too much longer as the defender is nearly available for selection again following a knee procedure a few weeks ago.
For the Whitecaps they will look toward their two midfield stars in Pedro Morales and Christian Bolanos to continue their fine for against a tough Colorado defense. Morales leads Vancouver with six goals, three of which have been game winners, and has also notched four assists. Bolanos has scored five goals this campaign and assisted twice. Playing against a Colorado side that sets up defense first and presses the ball well in the defensive third, it’s important for Morales and Bolanos to find space in midfield. If either player can get on the ball without pressure from Colorado’s defensive midfielders Sam Cronin and Michael Azira then they’ll have the opportunity to use their vision to pick out a teammate in dangerous areas.
Midfielders Christian Bolanos and Pedro Morales will be tasked with opening up Colorado’s defense. (Photo Credit: Hazel May)
A lot of teams have tried to beat Colorado by sending crosses in from the wings this season, but the strategy hasn’t been effective. A player like Pedro Morales has the quality to create space against a defender in the middle of the pitch and pick out a pass. Vancouver’s chances in this match may hinge on how often he’s able to isolate himself and the movement of his teammates around him.
So far this season Colorado has done an excellent job of limiting that time and space for opposing creating players. There are very few players in MLS that have the ability to receive the ball with their back to goal and turn and create a goal scoring opportunity of their own. Colorado banks on this, taking away the midfielder and most direct route to goal.
For Colorado the key to this match will be improving the wing play.
Shkelzen Gashi missed time on the left wing while playing for Albania in the European Championships this past month, the winger made a return to the lineup last week but looked sluggish and was ineffective on the evening. If Gashi can regain his early season form which saw him taking on defenders one on one as well as providing excellent free kicks into the box, then Colorado’s other attackers may be able to flourish as well. Jermaine Jones playing in the center of the park can only do so much and needs outlets to distribute the ball too. Pablo Mastroeni may elect to start Dominique Badji on the right wing after he looked sharp as a sub against the Timbers. Badji plays more like a forward and uses pace to get in behind defenses.
Jermaine Jones needs help from wing players like Shkelzen Gashi. (Photo Credit: Corbin Elliott)
Kevin Doyle is always a threat for the Rapids, running in behind defenders and if he, Gashi and Badji can use their pace to stretch the Vancouver defense and provide some width, then Colorado should be able to snatch a goal.
If Badji does not get the start on the right wing then expect Marco Pappa to play there for Colorado. If Pappa starts then Rapids fans will finally get to see their new look team for 2016 all on the field together for the first time this season. Because of suspensions, injuries, international duty and the recent arrival of Tim Howard, that hasn’t been the case. Rapids fans would love to see Doyle, Pappa, Jones and Gashi all on the field leading the attack while the Secretary of Defense, Tim Howard, marshals the defense from goal.
Both teams have been in shaky form lately and both will hope to rebound quickly.
For Vancouver a bright May was forgotten during a tricky spell in June, and they’re currently tied on points with Portland Timbers in sixth place. Portland looks to have found a way past their early season woes and will only get stronger as the season advances, it’s important for Vancouver to take points away from teams ahead of them in the Western Conference champions and they will have their chance against the second place Rapids.
For Colorado, the team may be going to the inevitable dip in form that supporters have been fearing all season. Two scoreless draws isn’t a terrible dip, but with a near full strength side for the first time in 2016 expectations are high for this team to start firing on all cylinders, especially in attack.
