The only winless side at home in the 2023 MLS campaign will take on one of the three teams without a road victory this year as the Colorado Rapids welcome the Vancouver Whitecaps to Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Wednesday.
Heading into this contest, the Burgundy Boys are without a victory in eight consecutive matches in all competitions, losing 2-0 at Orlando City the last time out, while Vancouver have come back to earn a result in back-to-back league fixtures, drawing FC Cincinnati 1-1 in their previous encounter.
Match preview
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With more than half of their campaign in the books, things have gone from bad to worse for Robin Fraser and the Rapids, as a team that finished the 2021 regular season with the best record in the Western Conference are currently dead last in the West with 13 points.
When they take to the field later this week, it will have been 11 days since this group last played a competitive fixture, and you would think they had a lot to work on during that break.
At the moment, they are averaging 0.72 points per game, which puts them on track for their worst-ever regular-season campaign, though unlike the 2001 side that had 23 points in 26 contests, the Rapids will have eight more games than that team had.
Scoring a mere 14 goals this season is far from an encouraging sign for a club that have not looked all that creative during the run of play, relying almost exclusively on set pieces to score.
Colorado have failed to find the back of the net at home in three successive matches in all competitions, conceding in every one of their encounters played at Dick's Sporting Goods Park since a 0-0 draw on April Fool's Day versus Los Angeles FC.
Over the 2023 domestic campaign, the Rapids have struggled to hang onto advantages, losing three times when scoring the opener, while they are winless this year when allowing the first goal in a game.
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Unbeaten in four straight matches in all competitions, Vanni Sartini and the Whitecaps have a lot to be optimistic about right now.
His side went toe-to-toe with the Supporters' Shield leaders on the opening Saturday this month and came away with a well deserved single point, while they have claimed eight points against Western Conference teams that are currently in a playoff position.
So far in 2023, the Caps have picked up four points when conceding the opening goal, including in their previous two home contests domestically, scoring late from the penalty spot on both occasions.
The Caps have given up eight goals in their previous three road games, missing numerous opportunities to claim three points away from home this year, scoring first in three of those encounters.
Vancouver have only claimed victory in one of their previous five visits to Commerce City against the Rapids, with their last triumph coming in 2019 (3-2).
Six of their goals this season have come with fewer than 10 minutes remaining, five in their previous four matches played in this competition.
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Team News
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Colorado will be without Braian Galvan and Lalas Abubakar on Wednesday as they were each red-carded against Orlando City, Diego Rubio sat out of their last match with an upper-body issue, Max has not been available since being accused of unlawful sports gambling and Jack Price is dealing with an Achilles injury.
Moise Bombito was called up to the Canadian squad for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup, while Bryan Acosta will join Honduras at that same tournament.
Jonathan Lewis had a goal and an assist in their previous home game against the Caps last season, while Rubio and ex-striker Gyasi Zardes also netted in that 3-1 triumph.
The Whitecaps were missing Ali Ahmed in their previous match as he was under concussion protocol, while Alessandro Schopf sat out due to groin tightness.
Pedro Vite is with the Ecuadorian national team for the international window, Julian Gressel will be representing the United States as they begin defence of their Gold Cup crown this weekend, while Javain Brown will be featuring in that competition for Jamaica.
Ryan Gauld has rescued the Caps in each of their previous two MLS encounters, scoring a late equaliser from the penalty spot each time, while Yohei Takaoka helped them salvage a point in their earlier meeting with the Rapids this season, stopping Rubio from 12 yards away as the two sides played to a 0-0 draw.
Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:
Ilic; Rosenberry, Wilson, Maxso, Edwards; Ronan, Acosta; Priso, Bassett, Lewis; Cabral
Vancouver Whitecaps possible starting lineup:
Takaoka; Blackmon, Veselinovic, Laborda; Raposo, Berhalter, Cubas, Martins; Gauld; White, Becher
We say: Colorado Rapids 0-0 Vancouver Whitecaps
The altitude in Colorado is one of the most physically demanding environments to play in, and we expect chances to be at a minimum for these sides missing some key playmakers due to the international window, while those conditions could take a toll on a Vancouver side that do most of their damage in transition.
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Top tip
Joel Lefevre
