Vancouver, British Columbia– The Colorado Rapids are off the back of getting their first-ever point at BMO Stadium, and their next match will be no easier. The Rapids (4-1-4, 7th West) make the trip to Canada to face the Vancouver Whitecaps (7-0-1, 2nd West). The Whitecaps are in the middle of their best-ever start in MLS, a season after just falling short of MLS Cup glory. Can Colorado ride the momentum of a dominating performance against LAFC? Let’s take a look at the matchup.
When: Saturday, April 25th @ 8:30 p.m. MST
Where: BC Place, Vancouver
TV/Streaming: Apple TV
Scoreless Draw in LA
There were no goals when Colorado took the field against an LAFC team that they have had some trouble finding success against. In a stadium where the Rapids had gone nine straight losses with an aggregate score of 25-2. Colorado dominated the game. The Rapids finished with 72% possession. Matt Wells was quite happy to know that the Rapids had 91% possession in the first 12 minutes.
This possession did not equal chances, however. Colorado was only able to put up six shots and two on target. None of those shots on target happened in the second half. Matt Wells was quick to say postgame that the possession also kept LAFC to five shots and only one shot on target. It is an impressive stat, but LAFC were closer to finding the back of the net, especially after the 65th minute. The Rapids may have gotten lucky that they didn’t concede in their usual fashion against LAFC. But as Wells says, this is a different Rapids side.
At the beginning of the year, Wells was adamant that his Colorado Rapids would take the game to any opponent. There was some skepticism, but now, off the back of playing Inter Miami and LAFC, and being the better side in both matchups, it’s looking more fact than fiction for Matt Wells. It will have to continue if Colorado wants to get any kind of result against Vancouver.
Lineup Prediction:
Steffen / Thompson, Holding, Herrington, M. Navarro / Frederick, Ojedrian, Aaronson / Sealy, R. Navarro, Minoungou
Connor Ronan and Ted Ku-DiPietro remain out. Jackson Travis is questionable after getting injured against LAFC. Josh Atencio is suspended for yellow card accumulation. Both Atencio and Ronan’s absence means that the midfield seems pretty set in stone. If Travis can’t go, Miguel Navarro will be the guy to step up.
Matt Wells confirmed that Reggie Cannon is back from his Achilles injury and will be part of the team on Saturday. Kosi Thompson has cooled down after a hot start against the Houston Dynamo. He was looking undroppable after his debut, but now there is a way back into the team for Cannon. It would be surprising to see him start; it wouldn’t be as surprising to see him get minutes off the bench.
Colorado is in the middle of the most schedule congestion they will have this season. They come home to play the Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the US Open Cup on Wednesday. They have gone Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday for a while now, and it won’t stop until next week. It will be interesting to see how much rotation Wells makes for this game and the US Open Cup game midweek. It’s pretty safe to say Rafa Navarro will be involved.
Vancouver’s Best Ever Start
The Canadian side has seven wins in their first eight. They are only second to a San Jose team that is also off to its best-ever start of a season. Vancouver’s one loss of the season was to that same San Jose side. The Whitecaps also lost both legs of their Concacaf Champions Cup tie against Seattle. But in MLS, they are looking mighty impressive.
They had shared the title of most goals scored with the Rapids last week, but a Colorado 0-0 draw against LAFC means that the Whitecaps got a small lead. There is now a tie between San Jose and Vancouver at 22 goals, while Colorado lags behind by one at 21 goals. A win by more than one goal would ensure Colorado jumps Vancouver in that category. It would be very difficult.
Vancouver’s success comes down to star power mixed well with good-to-great squad guys. Brian White, Thomas Müller, and Sebastian Berhalter are the three big names. But guys like Yohei Takaoka, Tristan Blackmon, and Emmanuel Sabbi are among the best at their positions in MLS. It is a very solid squad all around, and head coach Jasper Sorenson has them playing the best ball in the club’s history.
It is also of note that Vancouver has a few former Rapids players, and one who has a pretty good chance of seeing the field. Ralph Priso won’t see the field after his long-term injury, but the Canadian has found new life in Vancouver, and was on the verge of breaking into the Canadian national team before he got hurt. It would be nice to see the other former Rapid have such a revitalization in Vancouver, as Colorado homegrown Oli Larraz made Vancouver his new home after the Rapids did not extend him this offseason. Oli might see the field against Colorado, and of course, it’s in a game where Colorado may need more depth in the center of the park.
Prediction: Vancouver shows their class and is too much for Colorado, but the Rapids make it a good game. Whitecaps win this one 3-2.
Thank you for reading Burgundy Wave. Support us via our Patreon starting at $5/month. You can also make a one-time contribution via Tip Jar. We’re always looking for new talent. Let us know if you’re interested in covering Colorado Soccer.
Eamon Shaw 