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First Thoughts
The World Cup break got the better of the Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact on Wednesday, with the two Canadian sides playing to a lackluster scoreless draw. Carl Robinson and his squad will now endeavor to get back on the winning side of things away against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.
While the draw against Montreal at BC Place wasn’t exactly a thriller, it wasn’t all bad news for Vancouver, as the Whitecaps extended their current undefeated streak to eight games. The Caps will now aim to make it nine games unbeaten against a Western Conference opponent that is one of only two teams to have defeated Carl Robinson’s squad in 2014.
Keep Thinking
This fixture will be the second of three meetings between Vancouver and Colorado this season. With both teams looking like clubs that will be in the mix for a playoff mix right to the end, this game could have post-season implications in the months ahead. The Rapids and Whitecaps will enter play on Saturday with 22 points each but with Vancouver having a game in hand.
The Whitecaps could be bolstered by the return to action of starting right Steven Beitashour, who was away at the World Cup with the Iranian national team. The return of the veteran fullback is a timely one for Vancouver given that centre back Jay DeMerit is now injured and unavailable.
In terms of how these two clubs match up, at a basic level this fixture will present one team with a blazing offense versus a club that seen success due to its defensive solidity. Vancouver enter play second to only the Seattle Sounders with an average of 1.79 goals per game while the Rapids have conceded a meagre 1.2 goals per game.
While Vancouver attackers such as Pedro Morales and Erik Hurtado have been on fire in recent weeks, the difference between a win and a loss in this game could come down to the performances of central midfielders Matias Laba and Gershon Koffie. How those two young players deal with one of the top young playmakers in the league in Colorado’s Dillon Powers will likely play a key role in determining the outcome of this match.
For neutral observers, this match will be a fun one to watch given the fact that both Vancouver and Colorado are exciting young teams laden with some of the best young players in the league.
Final Thoughts
With Vancouver having already shaken off their World Cup break rust midweek against Montreal and Colorado having home field advantage while playing at altitude, expect this one to be a fairly evenly matched affair, with yet another draw being the most likely outcome.
Prediction
Vancouver Whitecaps 1-1 Colorado Rapids
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