Game Preview & How to Watch: Colorado Rapids vs Vancouver Whitecaps

On Saturday, August 5th, the Colorado Rapids will play host to the Vancouver Whitecaps at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Kickoff is set for 8:00 pm MDT and the match will be broadcast on Altitude.

The Colorado Rapids will look to get back to winning ways at home against a Vancouver side that is fresh off a 4-0 demolition of FC Dallas in Texas last weekend. This is also the Rapids first home fixture since July 4th due to the break for the CONCACAF Gold Cup and two consecutive road games since league play resumed two weeks ago.

Colorado (6-12-2, 20 points) currently find themselves at the foot of the Western Conference table after a disappointing 1-0 loss at San Jose Earthquakes last Saturday. To make matters worse, Zac MacMath is out 4-6 weeks after having knee surgery. However, Tim Howard is back from participating in the MLS All-Star Game in Chicago against Real Madrid.

Vancouver (9-8-3, 30 points) are in 6th place in the Western Conference and on pace to qualify for the MLS postseason. Fredy Montero scored two goals while Bernie Ibini and Nicolas Mezquida also tallied to lead the dominant Whitecaps over FC Dallas last weekend. This was Vancouver’s largest ever road victory in their MLS history.

On the bright side for Colorado, Bobby Burling returned to training this past week, but he is unlikely to feature as he is still recovering from a foot injury. It is also unclear if Stefan Aigner will be ready to make his debut. The Rapids will need the German forward sooner rather than later as the Rocky Mountain side have scored only 20 goals in 20 league fixtures this season.

Major League Soccer will also debut video review in all matches this weekend for the first time in it’s history. The VAR (Video Assistance Referee) will advise the head referee in errors on goals, penalty calls, straight red card incidents, and cases of mistaken identity.

Injuries

Colorado

QUESTIONABLE: Bobby Burling (foot)

OUT: Zac MacMath (knee)

Vancouver

QUESTIONABLE: none

OUT: Alphonso Davies (groin), David Edgar (PCL and MCL tear), Brett Levis (ACL tear)

How to Watch

Match Date/Time: Saturday, August 5, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. MT

Venue: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park—Commerce City, CO

TV Information: Altitude

Radio: Altitude950

Live Stream: MLS Live (blackouts apply)

Weather at Kickoff: 74 and partly cloudy