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Rapids face 'Caps in search of home field advantage

Oct 21, 2011 - 11:01 PM Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - The Colorado Rapids travel to BC Place to face Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, needing a win to ensure home field advantage in their midweek wild card game.

With the ten Major League Soccer playoff teams finalized, Colorado is now playing for position in the final standings.

After a scoreless draw against Real Salt Lake last time out, the Rapids have put together consecutive shutouts for the first time this season.

Head coach Gary Smith hopes the performance can spur his team on in a string of fixtures that will determine whether or not Colorado will host a play-in game at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

"That performance, whilst we haven't been able to convert, is as good as any performance because of the caliber of our opponent [is as good] as we have seen in a good while," Smith said. "It should certainly catapult [the team] into [the CONCACAF Champions League match], Vancouver, and hopefully we can keep that momentum going into what we seriously hope to be a home wildcard game."

While the Rapids have been solid at the back, their efforts at the opposite end have proved to be somewhat futile of late, finding the net just three times in their last six regular season matches.

"I think we are getting close to where we were at this time last year," striker Macoumba Kandji said. "We have been getting unlucky in front of goal, but I think we are definitely building that little bit of momentum going into the playoffs, which is the best thing that could happen for us."

Vancouver, which has long been out of the playoff picture, has managed to win two of its last three matches. But in their last outing, the Whitecaps suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of FC Dallas.

"We've had a decent stretch, especially at home," said Whitecaps FC head coach Tom Soehn. "[Against FC Dallas] when we showed up, I felt like the soccer wasn't there. We held the pressure down quite well, created some counterattacks, but in the flow of the counterattack, we just gave up some bad balls."

With nothing at stake, Vancouver is simply playing for pride, looking to end its debut season in MLS on a high note.

"It's very important to us," said goalkeeper Joe Cannon. "We've shown that we can put some good games there, and I think to end the season on a positive note is a must. It's a long week until then. We've got to work hard and hopefully all of the guys will come out hungry like in the first game of the year."