COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – A three-game MLS road trip ended with a fizzle for the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday nightas they fell 2-0 to the Colorado Rapids, their eighth away loss of an uneven 2016 campaign.
“It was not a good result,” Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson said post-game. “Fair play to Colorado, they looked sharper than us from the first whistle.”
Fatigue was a definite factor for Vancouver, who played a CONCACAF Champions League match in Trinidad on Tuesday.
“What I don’t do is use things as excuses,” Robinson explained. “But it’s not ideal, let me tell you that. When you’re playing Champions League games, it’s very difficult. Everyone thinks they’ve got a bad schedule. We know we travel the furthest and have to catch connections, but it’s no excuse for me.”
The Whitecaps did add a fresh body with the injection of new addition Giles Barnes, who was acquired from Houston prior to this week’s transfer deadline. But Vancouver’s offense continued its struggles, and the Whitecaps found themselves on the end of their fourth straight road shutout.
“It didn’t go the way we wanted it to go,” Barnes said of his Whitecaps debut. “Obviously coming here, we were all in great spirits. I think it was a good week, but we didn’t get the result. We’ve had a couple of days together. I think it was a difficult game for us and we didn’t play particularly well in all areas. We’ve got the next game and that’s what I’m looking forward to.”
Whitecaps defender David Edgar made his MLS debut. But the Vancouver defense was also taxed in the loss, with Rapids midfielder Marlon Hairston breaking through for a goal and an assist.
“Everything takes time,” Robinson said of the integration of new players into the lineup. “Miracles don’t happen overnight. David came in today and played very well on Tuesday. He was tired but he didn’t quit. I can’t fault the effort.”
Needless to say, after 10 days away from BC Place that Robinson said felt like “a month,” the Whitecaps are eager for a return home as they prepare for San Jose's visit next week (Friday, 11 pm ET; UniMás in US, TSN in Canada).
“We look forward to it,” said Robinson. “We want to play at home and we want to win our home games.”
