VANCOUVER, BC – Can they make it to four road wins on the bounce? The Western Conference-leading Vancouver Whitecaps are confident they can, but remain cautious of facing a Colorado Rapids side on Saturday (9 pm ET; TSN in Canada, MLS Live in US) that's out of form and rooted to the foot of the table.
With wins at the Galaxy, the Red Bulls, and the Revolution in their last three outings, the Whitecaps have every right to feel that confidence. They're also keen to make sure that all that good work isn't undone if they can’t beat Colorado, and they’re taking nothing for granted.
"They won't get complacent because I know the way I am, I know the way my coaches are,” Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson told media on Thursday. "I've challenged the boys and said, we need to kick on now. There's no point in going to New York and winning or LA and winning if we don't take care of the next set of business."
“Make no doubt about it, it's a difficult game for us," he continued. "[The Rapids have] been very, very unlucky in a lot of games they've played. We don't want that to change on Saturday."
Robinson has reason to be wary. The Rapids have recorded just two wins all season, but one of those came against the Whitecaps on May 23. Colorado have gone six games without a win since that victory over Vancouver, picking up just two points and scoring only two goals.
Recent form favors the Whitecaps, but Vancouver have perennially struggled to get wins over the league’s lower-placed teams over the years.
"I believe that playing [games] against the teams that aren't doing well are more tricky to play,” said Whitecaps midfielder Mauro Rosales. “If you lose concentration or you think that it's going to be easy, then that is the moment that they can hurt us and they can surprise in any part of the game"
The Rapids also have history on their side. The heat and altitude of Colorado has not been a happy hunting ground for Vancouver over the years. They haven’t won there in six previous attempts, mustering just one draw and four goals. They'll also face a Colorado side that boasts the third-best goals against record in the league.
"Historically we've had a hard time going there playing. I don't know if it's the altitude, if it's Colorado -- but this is a tough game," Vancouver goalkeeper David Ousted admitted. "They know that they need to get back into it and climb the table. A wounded animal. They have quality, we see that. They're trying to find it right now but we can't allow them to find it against us."
