Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Colorado Rapids
MLS Regular Season - Week 3
Sunday, May 2, 2021 - 7:08 p.m. PT
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, UT
TV: TSN1/3 - RADIO: AM730
WAVE OF MOMENTUM: The 'Caps are coming off two impressing outings to start off the 2021 MLS season, defeating rivals Portland Timbers on opening night, then securing a road point against Toronto FC last weekend. A win on Sunday will match the ‘Caps best three-game start in club MLS history (2012 – 7 points – W-W-D).
CHEMISTRY ON DISPLAY: The chemistry within the Whitecaps FC roster has been evident in their play in their first two matches, resulting in linkups at midfield, and in their set pieces that have already produced two goals. The 'Caps have found scoring output from a multitude of sources - striker Lucas Cavallini, winger Cristian Dajome, and centre back Andy Rose each have found the net, while left back Cristian Gutierrez has tallied a pair of assists. Stretching back to the 2020 MLS season finale, Gutierrez has assisted in three consecutive matches, the longest assist streak for a 'Caps defender in the MLS era.
LONG TIME COMING: Sunday's matchup between Whitecaps FC and the Rapids is the first meeting between the two Western Conference clubs since 2019. They were scheduled for a Week 3 matchup last year before the MLS season came to a pause two days prior to the matchup at BC Place. The 'Caps enter the showdown on a high, while the Rapids are hungry for their first win after giving up three second-half goals in their home loss to Austin FC in their last outing.
BY THE NUMBERS
A win or draw on Sunday will give the ‘Caps a three-game undefeated start to the 2021 MLS season after going through the entire 2020 without a similar stretch. The last time they went undefeated in three consecutive matches was September 14-29, 2019 (W-D-W).
Counting their win to end the 2020 MLS season, the ‘Caps are aiming for a four-game undefeated streak in MLS play with a result on Sunday.
- A win or draw on Sunday gives VWFC a four-game undefeated streak across the end of 2020 and the start of 2021, their longest since May 18 to June 26, 2019 (six-game stretch: D-D-W-D-D-D).
- A win on Sunday gives VWFC 10 points in their last four league play matches. A draw on Sunday gives VWFC eight points in their last four league play matches. The last time they collected eight or more points in a four-game stretch was from August 11 to September 1, 2018 – the last four games of a six-match undefeated streak beginning on July 28, 2018 (W-D-W-D-W-W).
AVAILABILITY REPORT
Injured
Michael Baldisimo: Questionable - right ankle sprain suffered on April 28 in training, return to match status is day-to-day
Erik Godoy: Doubtful - right calf strain suffered vs. Real Monarchs on April 6, return to match status is day-to-day
Leonard Owusu: Out - right hamstring strain suffered vs. Chicago Fire FC on April 10, return to training status is day-to-day
Tosaint Ricketts: Probable - left hamstring strain suffered during VWFC vs. Real Monarchs on April 6, return to match status is day-to-day
Awaiting visa approval from US Citizenship and Immigration Services
Ali Adnan: training in Vancouver, BC
'CAPS x COLORADO CONNECTIONS
Former 'Caps
Steven Beitashour (’14-’15): 58 GP, 57 GS, 8 A
Nicolas Mezquida (’14-’18): 122 GP, 64 GS, 17 G, 7 A
Former teammates
Tosaint Ricketts with Clint Irwin and Drew Moor under then-assistant coach Robin Fraser at TOR (’16-’18)
Then-Swope Park Rangers coach Marc Dos Santos with Diego Rubio at SKC/Swope Park Rangers (’16)
Janio Bikel with Younes Namli at SC Heerenveen (’15)
Assistant coach Ricardo Clark and Drew Moor at Furman ('02), and with Lalas Abubakar at CLB ('18-'19)
Maxime Crepeau ('13-'14) and goalkeeper coach Youssef Dahha ('12-'13) with Collen Warner at MTL
Evan Newton with Steven Beitashour at SJ ('12-'13)
Tosaint Ricketts with Steven Beitashour at TOR ('16-'17)
Head coach Marc Dos Santos, then an assistant, with Steven Beitashour at LAFC ('18)
Fellow countrymen
Argentina: Erik Godoy and Braian Galván
Brazil: Caio Alexandre and Andre Shinyashiki
Chile: Cristián Gutiérrez (born in Canada) and Diego Rubio. They both developed with Colo-Colo in their youth.
Colombia: Deiber Caicedo, Cristian Dajome, and Michael Barrios
England: Andy Rose (born in Australia) and Jack Price
Ghana: Leonard Owusu and Lalas Abubakar
SUPPORT IN STYLE
Save over 40% when you purchase a 'Caps trucker cap and a Village scarf on whitecapsfc.com/store.
MATCHDAY MEALS
Get 15% off orders of $12+ from Matchday Meals restaurants in Vancouver. Order a meal of $12 or more from a participating merchant in Vancouver and use the promo code ‘MATCHDAY15’ to receive 15% off. Click here for details.
FRIES 4 FANS
Free fries on matchday! To redeem your free fries, simply download the A&W app, add your fries and at least one more item to your cart, and then enter the code WHITECAPS at checkout. Click here for details.
