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'Caps aim to clinch playoff berth against Rapids

Oct 24, 2014 - 9:02 PM Vancouver, BC (SportsNetwork.com) - Vancouver Whitecaps FC will aim to clinch a playoff berth on Saturday when the club hosts the Colorado Rapids at BC Place.

The Whitecaps have hovered around the red playoff line for most of the season, and now it all comes down to the final match of the season.

The situation is clear for Vancouver: a win over Colorado and they will be in the postseason for the second time in franchise history.

"We need to win," Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson told reporters this week. "I firmly believe Portland will go to Dallas and get a result -- so that will be our focus and that will be the message I send to the guys. I won't be looking at their result. I'll be focusing on what we can do."

A win guarantees the 'Caps a spot in the postseason dance, but there are also some scenarios where a full three points may not be required; it depends on Portland's result against FC Dallas earlier on Saturday.

Should Portland defeat FC Dallas, Vancouver will need a win to get in. If Portland loses to FCD, Vancouver will seal their spot, and it Portland draws Dallas, Vancouver needs just a point to secure a postseason berth.

The 'Caps will be looking to close the regular season with a five-match unbeaten streak coming off a scoreless draw against the San Jose Earthquakes.

San Jose came close to getting in front in the 44th minute when Chris Wondolowski nearly capped a darting run into the box with cool finish, but David Ousted managed to produce a kick save to keep the 'Quakes at bay.

Vancouver's best scoring opportunity came in the 75th minute when Darren Mattocks played a brilliant ball to release Kekuta Manneh, but Jon Busch managed to deny the Whitecaps striker to ensure a scoreless draw.

"I'll pick my strongest team that I think can go and win the game," Robinson added.

It's been a difficult season for Colorado, who were bitten by the injury bug early and struggled to regain any kind of positive form. The Rapids can finish no higher than seventh in the Western Conference.

Pablo Mastroeni's team enters Saturday's match riding a 13-match winless streak having conceded the most goals in the league (61).

Colorado is coming off a 1-0 loss to FC Dallas at Dick's Sporting Goods Park last time out.

It was a rather tame opening 45 minutes, but things picked up in the 55th minute when Colorado's Chris Klute handled the ball inside his own penalty area, giving Blas Perez the chance to fire home his 11th goal of the season by beating goalkeeper Clint Irwin from the penalty spot.

"I thought we played well. We were knocking on the door and just couldn't get one in. It was unfortunate to have that penalty kick against us and then the red card - it just came down to heart after that," said Rapids midfielder Nick LaBrocca. "We were close to squeezing through but we just couldn't get there. We were pretty dangerous, I thought, but it's just a matter of sticking together and getting ready for next year now."