Colorado Rapids vs. Vancouver Whitecaps - Game Preview

The Colorado Rapids have already clinched a playoff spot after drawing Real Salt Lake and then getting some help from Sporting Kansas City, but have a chance to both gain a little playoff standing in the Wild Card spots and retain a bit more pride from a disappointing season when they finish out their year against the Vancouver Whitecaps tonight at 5 PM Mountain Time.

Two of Colorado's most important players will miss this match with Drew Moor getting a well deserved rest due to card accumulation and Pablo Mastroeni still struggling with the concussion that he suffered near the end of the Salt Lake match. No word yet on whether he'll be all right for the mid-week playoff game that will be on Wednesday or Thursday. The rest of the team is also tired after the trip to Mexico where they lost 2-0 to Santos before getting knocked out of the CONCACAF Champions League, so it's possible we'll see a fairly reserve-heavy side take on Vancouver this evening.

It probably isn't too bad of a problem to have since all that this will determine is if the Rapids get a home game in the playoffs for the Wild Card round or not; considering they've been a better team on the road somehow that's not even as much of a problem as it probably should be.

Colorado won their previous match against Vancouver 2-1 off goals by Conor Casey and Scott Palguta during that great mid-season run of form. A win today will guarantee they get the #2 wild card slot, else they will have to watch the Houston vs. Los Angeles match and hope that LA gets the win.