Things to do in Denver before you’re dead last
The Vancouver Whitecaps (45-5, 7th West) packed their bags for Denver directly after training Thursday, winging their way to the Mile High City to take on the deflating Rapids (2-7-2, 12th West) tonight (6 p.m., TSN 1/3, TSN 1410 AM).
The Rapids have lost six straight Major League Soccer games — including three home dates — and sit last in the Western Conference.
KEY MATCHUP
Jose Aja vs. Dominique Badji
With Kendall Waston off to Russia to do battle for Costa Rica at the World Cup, it will fall upon centreback Jose Aja to steady a back line that has been subject to frequent lapses of focus this season, costing the Caps goals at inopportune times. Rapids striker Dominique Badji, who has five of his team’s 13 goals, will look to put pressure on a back four that won’t have played a game as a unit this season.
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
Riddle in the middle
It has been the burning question for a team looking to patch up its defensive holes: who will start alongside Aja at centreback with Waston gone?
Aly Ghazal got the chance against New England, but it’s safe to say that experiment will be shelved for now. It will either be Aaron Maund or Doneil Henry, and the team is mum on who it will be.
Maund played four solid games to start the season before giving way to Aja, while Henry just returned from a five-game conditioning stint with the USL’s Ottawa Fury. But coach Carl Robinson isn’t averse to shaking things up, so don’t be surprised to see Henry, the Canadian international and former Premier Leaguer, get the nod.
Riddle in the middle, part 2
It’s difficult to believe, considering the Caps have given up the second-most goals in MLS over the last five games, but they’re pretty solid defensively. They’re ranked sixth overall in chances against at just under nine per game, and seventh in expected goals against (1.42). But opposing teams have taken advantage of defensive miscues, scoring clinical goals. Having Waston gone doesn’t help, but Robbo didn’t let him off the hook.
“Kendall’s made one or two errors when we’ve conceded goals, so he’s not adverse of the blame ... But he’s a big, big loss for us,” said Robinson. “It’s the next person to step up. It’s a squad for a reason. When you get your chance, you have to take your chance.
“People will not expect probably anything better, because Kendall’s a starting player ... ( but) what I say is … sometimes people surprise you. The player who gets the opportunity to step in might just surprise a few people.”
Learning how to finish
It’s been widely broadcast over the past five games how many chances the Whitecaps have been producing — they led the league in scoring opportunities in May — and before this week had scored more during their four-game run of draws than all but one team.
But it’s the easy misses, the pratfalls inside of five yards, that have stuck out. Three of those draws could have been wins if the Caps had taken their chances, and there would be fewer questions about the future of the coach if they had.
The air up there
The Whitecaps’ decision to fly to Colorado the day before the game was one based on sports science. While the air will be thinner, and oxygen level lower in Commerce City, the effects aren’t truly felt until the days following 24 hours of exposure. The Caps kick off roughly at the 24-hour mark today.
‘Wounded dogs’
Whitecaps fullback Brett Levis likened the stumbling Rapids to a wounded animal backed into a corner. Six consecutive losses will do that to a team; desperation becomes the primary motivation. Both teams are hungry to get a victory to turn things around, and the first goal will be crucial.