The Vancouver Whitecaps head to Colorado to take on the Rapids Friday evening. We get you ready for the match with all the important information. Match Details Dick’s Sporting Goods Park – Commerce City Friday, May 3rd – 6:00 PM PST Watch on TSN 1/3 (Canada), MLS Live on ESPN+ (USA), Altitude (in Colorado) Listen on TSN 1040 Standings Colorado Rapids: 0 wins, 2 draws, 7 defeats for 2 points (12th in the West) 12 goals for, 24 against, -12 goal differential Home Record: 0-2-2 scoring an average of 1.8 goals and conceding 2.8 goals Vancouver Whitecaps: 1 win, 3 draws, 5 defeats for 6 points (11th in the West) 7 goals for, 12 against, -5 goal differential Away Record: 0-3-1 scoring an average of 0.8 goals and conceding 1.5 goals Both clubs have began the 2019 campaign very poorly, occupying the final two positions in the Western Conference. While the Whitecaps season has been a sore point for fans, the Rapids fans have had it worse. On Wednesday, Colorado fired their head coach Anthony Hudson. This could be a blessing or a curse for the Caps. We could see Colorado come out strong, which tends to happen after a firing, or they could look disorganized. We will have to see on Friday. Previous Meetings Since 2017, the two clubs have faced each other five times. In 2017, Vancouver won twice and drew the third match, while in 2018, both clubs won a match. Interestingly though, Vancouver won in Colorado 2-1, while Colorado won in Vancouver 1-0. Player Report Colorado There will be several familiar faces to Whitecaps fans when the club suits up against the Rapids Friday evening. Despite Colorado’s poor start, Kei Kamara is tied for fifth in league scoring with five goals already. I bet a lot of Whitecaps fans wish he was doing that here. Next in team scoring is Benny Feilhaber, with two, and former Cap Nicolas Mezquida tied with several others at one. Kamara has played every minute (810) so far this season while Mezquida has started seven, and played in all nine, for 622 minutes. Former WFC 2 defender Deklan Wynne is still playing regularly for Colorado. He has started five matches so far, for 450 minutes. Vancouver Meanwhile, Vancouver’s attack is led by offensive powerhouse Doneil Henry. Yes, that is correct. Central defender Henry is the leading scorer for the Caps nine games into the season, with two goals on three shots. Next is several players with one goal each. Godoy and Henry have been locked down in the center of the defense this season starting every match and playing almost every minute (810 for Godoy and 809 for Henry). Hwang has also been a regular, starting eight and playing in all nine for 737 minutes. Injury Report Colorado Kortne Ford (knee surgery) – Out Kellyn Acosta (hamstring) – Questionable Vancouver Michael Baldisimo (left ankle contusion) – Out Jasser Khmiri (left knee injury) – Out David Norman Jr (right foot surgery) – Out Yordy Reyna (leg injury) – Out Andy Rose (facial fracture) – Likely Colorado is fairly healthy, with Kellyn Acosta being the only potential absence. Meanwhile, the Whitecaps were dealt a heavy blow in the Philadelphia Union draw as Yordy Reyna went down late and is likely out for an extended period of time. Andy Rose could have returned last match but needed a bit of seasoning before featuring in the 18. I would expect him to be back this match. Meanwhile, Khmiri is inching closer and closer to being an option for the Caps. However, he probably will not feature until the start of June. Predictions Final Score Strangely, the firing of head coach Anthony Hudson makes me more nervous about this match. Prior to hearing that I would have selected Vancouver to, somehow, win, but with the announcement, my apprehension is higher. I feel like the Caps won’t quite get over the hump themselves, with questions in attack, but that the Rapids won’t get their first win either. I see it ending in a 1-1 draw, with a possibility of 2-2. Starting XI (4-3-3) Crepeau Nerwinski, Godoy, Henry, Adnan Felipe, Erice, Teibert Venuto, Montero, Hwang<doc-sep>May is a brand-new start for the Colorado Rapids as Conor Casey takes the helm in his first ever game as head coach. Since seven of the first nine games went off without a point, let’s just call that “preseason” as a nod to now-former Head Coach Anthony Hudson. While many Rapids fans and supporters are already trying to figure out who might be the next head coach, I’ll be fine with Casey holding on to the reins for now. I’ve had conversations with him about his love of the sport, his hometown, and most of all his future as far as coaching. This isn’t his final destination, but it could be for at least this season. Not many people would be happy to come into the situation that the Rapids have put themselves in, whereas Casey has the ability and tools to work with what he has without asking for more. Now, here is where it gets tricky. Trying to predict today’s lineup as the Rapids look to grab a win in front of the fans at home won’t be easy. It will be anyone’s guess as to how CC will line up the Burgundy Boys. Will the “pets” of Hudson still get the nod, or will everyone start over on a fresh slate? Could Nana Boateng get his first minutes of the season? Will we see Kofi Opare return to the fold? Just how will the Rapids change things up in order to find their first win? I recall sitting in Padraig Smith’s office a little more than three years ago as he told me how committed the club was to the 4-2-3-1 formation. They were building a scouting program just for that formation, but the program gets finished, they sack Pabs, and bye-bye 4-2-3-1. This roster still is stacked with midfielders who can make a difference and a 4-2-3-1 formation is nearly perfect for that. The trouble is finding the right combination of guys where the chemistry is so good that our midfield is like a minefield to get through to take some pressure off the defense and Tim Howard. Tonight’s opponent is the Vancouver Whitecaps, who are not having a good start to their 2019 season either. Sitting at 1-5-3 the ‘Caps squandered a lead in the second half to Philadelphia last week and walked away with a draw. Vancouver is also winless on the road so far this season going 0-3-1 while also having a 3-7-1 record playing in Colorado. On paper, these guys looking like a good matchup for the Rapids to shake off the stink of a winless record. With a 10-8-4 all-time record against the Whitecaps, Vancouver is one of the few teams the Rapids have the overall advantage of winning more than they have lost. It also should be mentioned that both Kei Kamara and Nicolas Mezquida were with the Caps’ last season and will most likely want to stick it to them if given the chance. The new season starts now. Starting XI: Tim Howard; Deklan Wynne, Axel Sjoberg, Keegan Rosenberry; Sam Vines, Jack Price, Danny Wilson, Sebastian Anderson; Kei Kamara, Kellyn Acosta, Diego Rubio Officials Referee: Alex Chilowicz Assistant Referees: Jeff Hosking, TJ Zablocki 4th Official: Lorant Varga VAR: Edvin Jurisevic Colorado OUT: Kortne Ford (knee) QUESTIONABLE: None PROBABLE: None Suspended: n/a Suspended after next caution: None Vancouver OUT: Michael Baldisimo (left ankle contusion), Jasser Khmiri (left knee injury), David Norman Jr. (right foot surgery), Yordy Reyna (left hamstring strain) QUESTIONABLE: None PROBABLE: None Suspended: None Suspended after next caution: None How to Watch Match Date/Time: Friday, May 3rd at 7 p.m. MT Venue: Dicks Sporting Goods Park — Commerce City, CO TV Information: AltitudeTV Radio: Altitude 950 Live Stream: ESPN+ (subscription required)<doc-sep>Andy Rose scored in the 87th minute to help the Vancouver Whitecaps hold off winless Colorado 3-2 on Friday night, spoiling the interim coach Conor Casey's debut with the Rapids. Colorado (0-8-2) broke a tie for the second-longest winless stretch to start a MLS season. The Rapids fired head coach Anthony Hudson on Wednesday and replaced him with Casey. WATCH | Andy Rose leads Whitecaps to late win over Rapids: Andy Rose leads Whitecaps to late win over Rapids Sports 1:06 The Vancouver midfielder scored in the 87th minute to hand his side a 3-2 win in Colorado. 1:06 Fredy Montero opened the scoring in the 16th minute for Vancouver (2-5-3), curling a breakaway shot around Tim Howard. Lucas Venuto scored his first MLS goal 10 minutes later, redirecting Montero's cross for a 2-0 lead. Kei Kamara pulled Colorado to 2-1 in the 38th minute on a penalty kick and tied it early in the second half from the same spot for his seventh goal of the season. The Rapids were reduced to 10 men in the 77th when Diego Rubio received a straight red card for high contact with defender Doneil Henry.<doc-sep>
The Colorado Rapids started strong against the Vancouver Whitecaps, earning a corner kick and getting a shot within the first minute of the game, but in the end the Whitecaps earned their first road win of the year and the Rapids are still winless. In the 16th minute, Sebastian Anderson crossed a ball in to Kei Kamara who got a head on it, but it went over the crossbar. Vancouver ran down the other end and Axel Sjoberg stepped for the pass, but missed it. There was no coverage behind Axel, so this allowed Fredy Montero to get in behind and get a 1v1 with Tim Howard. Montero easily kicked it past Howard on the ground to put his team up 1-0. Ten minutes later, Montero got the ball again just outside the 18-yard-box on the left side after Sjoberg slid and missed it. Montero crossed it through the 6-yard-box past Howard to the oncoming Lucas Venuto. 2-0 Vancouver. In the 37th minute, Kellyn Acosta drew a foul from Montero that resulted in a penalty kick. Kamara stepped up, scored the goal, and got the ‘Pids on the board. The score stuck at 2-1 going into half-time. Just a couple of minutes into the second half, Sjoberg drew a foul in the box and—after a lengthy video review—another penalty kick was awarded to the Burgundy Boys. Kamara stepped to the spot again and tied it up at two goals each. He now has seven goals this season. In the 77th minute, Doneil Henry fouled Diego Rubio, appearing to hit him in the face. As the medical team was coming onto the pitch, a scuffle broke out and Rubio was shown a red for swinging at Henry. The Rapids went down to 10 men and Vancouver immediately scored. After another lengthy video review, the goal was called back. Bangoura's go-ahead goal is called back after video review. Rose deemed to be offside.#VARCup #COLvVAN pic.twitter.com/CnVi6HPxjL — Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) May 4, 2019 A few minutes later, Vancouver midfielder Andy Rose took a shot from inside the box. Sjoberg tried to step in front of it but missed. Howard got a hand on the ball but it still hit the back of the net for the Whitecaps’ third goal of the night. The Rapids had some great moments of build-up and put the ball in dangerous spots throughout the second half, but it wasn’t enough for another goal. Colorado’s losing streak is up to seven games and they will be home next weekend to take on Real Salt Lake.