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The Vancouver Whitecaps look to be in position to bolster their playoff position.
They're coming off a 4-0 road win at previously first-place FC Dallas.
On Saturday, they face a host Colorado Rapids (6-12-2) team that is in last place in the Western Conference. The Rapids have scored the second fewest goals in the league (20; D.C. United has 18).
And the Whitecaps (9-8-3) have the third-best road record at 4-5-1.
What could go wrong?
"Even though they're last in the West, any day they can beat any team," Vancouver midfielder Tony Tchani said this week after practice, according to the Vancouver Sun.
"In Colorado, you're playing in altitude, which is something we're not used to. Going there, 20 minutes into the game, your throat is dry, you get a little bit tired. Those are the things you have to fight against. Those guys are used to it. I think that's a big advantage for them."
The Whitecaps handled the altitude when they visited Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce, Colo., coming away with a 1-0 win.
Despite coming off a 1-0 loss to a San Jose Earthquakes team that had been hemorrhaging goals -- three in the previous three MLS matches -- all is not bleak in Colorado.
Seattle was 6-12-2 last season before rebounding to make the playoffs and win the MLS Cup.
"Everything's been difficult for us this season so far in Colorado, but one of the things that has given us hope going into the second half of the season is we're not far off the pace, believe it or not," Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard told MLSsoccer.com.
"Even though we're in last place at the moment, we feel like we're one or two wins away from really pushing for a playoff spot. It might take us until the last weekend of the season, but we feel as if we have the ability to continue to push. I know that's hard for some people to believe, but we believe."
One thing that could bolster that belief is last week's signing of midfielder Stefan Aigner. In 274 matches in the German Bundesliga, Aigner had 25 goals and 25 assists.
Colorado's sporting director, Padraig Smith, believes the addition of Aigner will benefit winger Shkelzen Gashi and striker Kevin Doyle.
"We've got an incredibly talented 'underneath' winger in Gashi, somebody who starts wide -- plays on the outside -- but is very capable of coming underneath (behind the forwards) almost as a creative 10," Smith told the Denver Post. "That gives you flexibility, but you want to make sure you've got that balanced up on the other side.
"We talk about unbalanced balance, if that makes sense. You want to have somebody on the other side who can stretch behind, who can hug the touchline, play as a traditional winger, take on the fullbacks, deliver crosses, get to the byline -- which is of critical importance. There's a small spot right between the 6-yard line and the end line, if players can get to that spot and pull the ball back, that's a real high-leverage opportunity for attackers."
That could help a team that ranks last in the league in shots per game (9.2) and shots on target (3.1).
Both teams have a week off until their next games.
After traveling to play FC Dallas on Aug. 12, the Rapids have a winnable game at home on Aug. 19 against last-place D.C. United.
Vancouver, which sits in sixth place just one point ahead of San Jose, plays at New England on Aug. 12.
