Vancouver at Colorado, Wed., July 4, 7:30 p.m. - pre / in / post [R]

Vancouver (7-4-5 overall, 2-3-2 road) at Colorado (7-8-1 overall, 5-2-1 home)
Wednesday, July 4, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
There is a 3:2 chance of fireworks after.

Vancouver is coming off 10 days rest following a 0-3 road loss to the Gals at HDC. The Rapids are coming off a quick turnaround after a solid 3-0 home win over Portland. The Rapids have the fewest draws in the MLS. Vancouver is tied with several teams for the most. This is the home rematch after the 0-1 heartbreak at BC Place on June 16.

Discuss . . .

Same starting line-up as Portland with the possibility of Omar being left out; Cascio or Edu in his place. Rapids play very hard with their eye on the three points. Hard to call but I say 2-1 CO win or 2-2 draw. Goals by Casey and some one else.

Once again the Rapids enter the match with all hands on deck following a satisfying and very well played victory enjoyed mightily by home fans. Buoyed by these 3 points and the quality of their play in this home win the Rapids should again push the tempo taking advantage of another hot day and the ever present altitude advantage. Can the Rapids build on the Portland match with continued ball possession and midfield dominance? More over can Rivero reproduce his outstanding performance, has the team caught up to his quality?

The Rapids should be well rested from long inactivity prior to the Portland match and 2 games in 5 days should not be taxing for a home side. In spite of the 10 day break Vancouver brings to Denver it follows a bad road loss + unaccustomed heat & altitude. With Vancouver 1 place ahead of the Rapids this becomes another "must win" home match.

We were unlucky to lose the game in Vancouver by 1 and that was with a banged up line-up. Therefore I say we SHOULD win this game with a competent performance. Of course that is why they play the games.

got a laugh out of Robson (Caps new DP) comment about playing here:

Robson admits he doesn’t know much about the Rapids, but is aware of the tough conditions teams playing in Denver must endure.
“I know that it’s hot, that it’s humid and that it’s high,” Robson said. “That’s what I’ve been told. We’ll wait and see how it is. It’s a learning curve for me as well. It’s going to be a tough game...

Yes, train for those humid conditions. :: Evil voice, pets white cat with metal glove ::

My house has been a drenching 30% humidity lately.

The latest forecasts suggest humidity may be an issue. Large drops of it.

There was some serious "humidity" in Boulder last night along with wicked lightening. It lasted for around 30 minutes or so. Very intense.

I do think that for teams like Vancouver and Portland the climate in Commerce City is an issue with the low humidity and heat combined with the altitude. Portland seemed to be dragging at times. When the Rapids got them down by two goals in the first half they appeared to be both physically and mentally drained. Let's hope the same thing happens Wednesday night.

With another match coming on Saturday it would be great for the Rapids to have that multiple goal lead in the second half so they can pull three starters to get them some rest.

I hope the team leaves it all on the field tomorrow night. The Saturday game is important as well but a good showing and win in front of 18k should be the focus.

I see the same lineup as last Saturday with Cascio replacing Omar.

Anyone else find it odd that at least for one game, Edu experiment was finally forgotten. Weird how he gets several starting chances but K. Hill never did.

I think it is only because OP is looking at Hill as a midfielder more than forward. Personally, I would have given Hill a chance before Edu.

I can't make the game tomorrow night, anyone want my two tickets? Section 108, not sure what row they have me in this week. Just shoot me a PM if interested. It would be swell if I could get the Class VI price for them (parking pass is on me...).

Vancouver did not play last weekend.

I'm really not looking forward to the idea of celebrating the birth of my country by losing to a team that still has the Queen of England on their money.

It will also be strange to hear Oh Canada before the game too. If there was a day to just skip that, it would be July 4th, but they won't, so instead there will probably be some smattering of drunken idiots who will start booing it...

Maybe an appropriate clip from South Park on the big screen while they play it? ;>)

2-0 Rapids win. Keep this momentum going! Hope I'm not jinxing it...

I liked the result last time I predicted a 1-1 result. Lets see it happen again.

Would like to see Omar and Castrillon sit this start out and top back-ups (whoever that may be) from pratice in their place.

2-1 win. Goals by Casey and Larentowicz. An All-American scoring duo will give the U.S. the win over Canada on the 4th of July. It won't be easy and the winner will come late, but the big crowd and the Independence Day tradition will give the rapids the edge they need.

http://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2012/07/rapids-try-to-burn-whitecaps.html

The fly over was always an amazing way to start the game. I really wish they would bring it back.

We drew David Gantar as the center ref. He's Canadian, eh. We haven't see him in a while, but he's pretty quick with the card. That could be bad news for Larentowicz, who is one YC from being penned.

Vancouver comes in with a patchwork lineup because Harris, Salgado, Sylvestre and Thorrington are out with injuries and Davidson is penned. Let's hope somebody marks Le Toux this time. Of course, the notoriously awful Commerce City humidity could well give Robson fits tonight.

Really the Rapids should be in very good shape for this map with a close to healthy top XI and some depth to boot. I will be watching to see if Rivero can continue to control the tempo and Casey can will be doing his usual work in the air and on the ground for the Rapids.

Tonight the 'Caps will have to deal with a more confident and skilled back four than they did in Vancouver.

Though the smoke coming in from Wyoming is pretty bad out there right now, that could cause issues.

So THAT'S what that is. I was gonna say, its pretty hazy.

hopefully we can contain harris his fast strong and got a great shot and dribble and heading ablility we need to snatch him