In last home match till August, Whitecaps meet improved Rapids

The Vancouver Whitecaps play their last home match until August on Saturday night when they host the Colorado Rapids.

The Whitecaps (7-1-0, 21 points), who are second in the Western Conference and the league overall behind only San Jose (24 points), will play their next eight matches in a row on the road as their home pitch, BC Place, undergoes preparations to host seven FIFA World Cup matches. Vancouver’s next home MLS match won’t be until Aug. 1 against Los Angeles FC.

The Whitecaps have made the most of their unbalanced schedule, which has seen them play seven of their first eight matches at home. Vancouver has gone 6-1-0 at home, losing only 1-0 to San Jose back on March 21, and brings in a three-game win streak, outscoring its opponents 8-2 during that span.

Vancouver enters the weekend tied with the Earthquakes, who have played one more match, for the league lead in goals scored (22) and goal differential (plus-18). Forward Brian White (six goals), former Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller (four goals) and U.S. national Sebastian Berhalter (three goals) lead the team in scoring.

Colorado (4-4-1, 13 points) has been one of the league’s most improved teams. The Rapids are in seventh place and have gone 1-1-1 in their last three matches.

After blowing out Houston 6-2 and losing a tightly contested match with defending MLS Cup champions Inter Miami 3-2, before 75,824 at Empower Field at Mile High, the Rapids pulled out a 0-0 draw at Los Angeles FC on Wednesday.

“They’ve been looking very, very good, and have grown from game to game,” Vancouver coach Jesper Sorensen said. “They changed up a lot of stuff since last season. I think looking to head in a good direction. Obviously, we’d like to make them look a little worse than they did (at LAFC), but that’s up to us.”

Lionel Messi scored twice to lead Inter Miami past the Rapids but Colorado finished with 61.9% possession and a 14-5 edge in shot attempts. The Rapids also dominated possession in the draw with LAFC, finishing with a huge 72.5% to 27.5% advantage.

“Another very high-level, technical performance by us,” Rapids coach Matt Wells said of the draw. “I thought we played with personality, played with courage, just like we did against Miami. … We’re showing we’re definitely a different team than we’ve been in the past.”

–Field Level Media