VANCOUVER, BC
– After what will be 21 days since their last MLS match, Whitecaps FC will be back in MLS action when they play host to Colorado Rapids on Saturday at BC Place (tickets remain available at
whitecapsfc.com/tickets
).
Sitting only one point out of a playoff spot, the ‘Caps have picked up points in their last four matches and are looking to continue their run of good form into the second half of the season. In their way stand a Colorado team that have found new life under interim head coach Conor Casey. Since Casey’s coaching debut in early May, when
the ‘Caps defeated them 3-2
, the Rapids have gone 4W-1L-1D in their last six matches.
“They’re just three points away from us in the standings and they’ve won their last four of five games. So we are very aware that this is not the same Colorado that we faced in early May,” said Whitecaps FC head coach Marc Dos Santos after training on Tuesday.
“We’ve addressed some stuff technically that we’ve wanted to improve on during the break. There’s a part of our game that we feel needs to improve and the players have done really well to incorporate that into training.”
The ‘Caps will be missing a few key bodies in the lineup, as
Maxime Crépeau
,
Derek Cornelius
,
Doneil Henry
, and
Russell Teibert
continue to represent Canada at the CONCACAF Gold Cup and earlier this week
Lass Bangoura
was
called up to the Guinean men's national team
for the upcoming 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Crépeau was one of two new goalkeepers that Dos Santos’ brought into the team in December. With the first opportunity of his career to be a consistent starter, the Québec native has flourished, having a breakout season in net. However, Crépeau will likely miss at least the next three MLS matches while away with Canada.
Enter,
Zac MacMath
.
The Florida native has made two road starts in his first season in Vancouver and now the 6-foot-2 shot-stopper is expected to make his BC Place home debut against the team he played four years with before being traded to Vancouver just six months ago.
“There’s not a team that I want to beat more than Colorado, but at the end of the day you just go out there and do your job,” says MacMath. “We’ve been using these last three weeks to continue to build on the concepts we’ve worked on since the beginning of the season and in the last six to eight weeks we’ve done a really good job of playing the way we want to play.”
Currently in his ninth season in MLS, MacMath has a wealth of experience to draw from as he will look to make his 135th MLS regular start, which is the third most on the club's roster.
‘Caps fans will also recognize a few familiar faces in opposing colours. Former Whitecaps FC midfielder Nicolas Mezquida and forward Kei Kamara make their first return to BC Place since offseason moves saw them leave the club at the end of last season.
Dealt to the Rapids as part of the trade that saw MacMath come to Vancouver, Mezquida spent five seasons with the ‘Caps, making 122 appearances for the club, including winning the Canadian Championship in 2015.
Kamara spent one season with the ‘Caps, scoring 14 goals in 28 appearances before being taken by FC Cincinnati in the 2018 MLS Expansion Draft, and subsequently being dealt to the Rapids in the same offseason.
Kickoff this Saturday, June 22 against Colorado Rapids is set for 7 p.m. PT. For ticket information, visit
whitecapsfc.com/tickets
.
