Colorado Rapids vs. Vancouver Whitecaps - Player Ratings

The final regular season home game saw Colorado Rapids all but clinched a return to the playoffs with an exciting and dramatic 3-2 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC in front of a packed house. The Rapids were led by goals from Deshorn Brown and a brace by Gabriel Torres and set a franchise record for wins and points in a season. With one game left in the 2013 season the Rapids have an opportunity for the top seed in the Western Conference and are finishing strong as they look to capture their second MLS Cup.

Here is how I saw the match:

Clint Irwin 6.5

Did not have a whole lot to do and could not do much about the Kekuta Manneh goal. Had one save on the night and gave up two goals (one penalty kick). He did pick up an assist on the Brown goal.

Chris Klute 7.5

Up and down the left side of the pitch all night, Klute was his usual energetic and physical self.

Shane O'Neill 6.5

The Rapids young player of the year had a good game with the exception of causing a penalty kick late in the second half.

Drew Moor 7.5

Moor helped to calm down the Rapids after they went down a goal and drew the penalty kick that led to the first half equalizer.

Marvell Wynne 7

Wynne used his size and speed up the right flank to neutralize the Whitecaps attack. Used his speed to shut down the attack on the right flank and help to limit the Whitecaps to three shots on goal.

Hendry Thomas 7

83% passing on the night for Thomas and he, along with Nathan Sturgis, slowed down a Vancouver attack that put 4 on the board against the Sounders last week.

Nathan Sturgis 7

Aside from the beautiful Vancouver goal in the first half, the Whitecaps struggled with asserting themselves in the midfield. Thomas and Sturgis limited Camillo's chances and he was left with just a PK goal.

Deshorn Brown 8

Five shots on goal, a beautiful strike in the second half has gone a long way to locking up Rookie of the Year. Excellent game by Brown, who also achieved his first cap with the Jamaican earlier this month.

Nick LaBrocca 6

Not the best match of the year for LaBrocca and he was subbed off at half time for Edson Buddle. Had one shot on goal and finished his night with a passing completion rate of 58%.

Vicente Sanchez 7

It was very exciting to see Sanchez on the field with Torres, Brown and Edson Buddle in the second half. It is that combination that makes me think the unthinkable in March is in fact possible.

Gabriel Torres 9

Torres took the bitter disappointment of missing out on the World Cup for Panama and channeled that into a brace. His game winner was pure class and showed why the Rapids had so much faith in him.

Substitutes

Edson Buddle 7.5

Buddle played with energy and fire for his 45 minutes of work. His assist on the second Torres goal was pure class.

Martin Rivero 6

Rivero had 11 minutes of work at the end of the match and did nothing to distinguish himself. Came on for Sanchez who looked to pick up a knock.

German Mera N/A

Played the patented fifth defender in the Rapids 5-4-1 to finish the game.