The Colorado Rapids haven’t won an MLS match since May 6. They will hope an international break allowed them to reset as they return to action by facing the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday night in Commerce City, Colo.
The Rapids (2-9-7, 13 points) are fighting through a seven-game winless drought — six losses, one draw — that has sunk them to the bottom of the MLS standings, tied with the Los Angeles Galaxy. It’s the Rapids’ worst start to a season through 18 games in their 28-year franchise history.
Rapids coach Robin Fraser voiced his team’s frustrations after the most recent game, a 2-0 loss at Orlando City on June 10 — frustrations both with their performance and the whistles they were getting. The Rapids have received three red cards in the past two games, with the dismissals of Braian Galvan and Lalas Abubakar leaving them to finish the Orlando game with nine men.
“We definitely feel snakebitten,” Fraser said. “We have to take our responsibility for our play and the things that we do. Goals change games and referees change games.”
The Whitecaps (5-5-7, 22 points) saw the international break arrive at an ideal time. They had played 11 matches between May 6 and June 10 due to their participation in the Canadian Championship alongside MLS fixtures.
Vancouver defeated CF Montreal 2-1 to win the Canadian title on June 7, and the club is 1-0-2 in its past three MLS outings.
“We had like five days off,” Whitecaps coach Vanni Sartini said, “but then it was good to have five days before the game to prepare, specifically to go over things that we’re doing well and we want to even do better, some things that we have to improve and some specific things that we expect Colorado to do. I think we’re in a good mood.”
The trick for Vancouver will be to take the show on the road. The Whitecaps are one of three MLS teams who have yet to notch a win away from home.
Sartini said midfielder Alessandro Schopf (groin tightness) is coming back from injury this week. The midfielder last played June 3.
Brian White leads the Whitecaps with six goals, while Julian Gressel has three goals to go with a team-best five assists.
No player has more than two goals for Colorado — Abubakar, Kevin Cabral, Michael Barrios and Cole Bassett are tied for the team lead — but Connor Ronan has posted six assists.
–Field Level Media
