Labor Day weekend marks a rare weekend off from games for the Colorado Rapids, which, coupled with a big holiday weekend concert, has the club’s training schedule off from its usual routine. Still, Bobby Burling and the rest of the Rapids are focused and preparing for an important match at Vancouver on Wednesday.
Colorado will sit idle on Saturday as both San Jose and Seattle will play with the opportunity to put more space between them and the Rapids for the final Western Conference playoff spot. San Jose, who hosts Philadelphia, is tied with Seattle in points and holds a game in-hand. The Sounders, who currently hold the playoff spot based on the total wins tiebreaker, host Toronto.
The Rapids are five points back of both clubs, but need to start collecting wins in event of a tie. Colorado has just eight to Seattle’s 12 and San Jose’s 11.
Colorado, winners of three in a row and six of their last nine, will give way to Phish over the holiday weekend, as the legendary jam band will be closing out its summer tour with a three-day concert series at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. As a result, the Rapids have an adjusted practice schedule that will give them days off on Saturday and Monday, with a workout on Saturday.
The Rapids look to build of the momentum of an historic win against Sporting KC on Wednesday, Sep. 2. In going 6-3 over their past nine games, Colorado has had streaks of three wins, three losses and three wins, a trend they are hoping to break against the Whitecaps on Wednesday. Pablo Mastroeni’s side is 2-0-0 against Vancouver already on the season, with both wins coming at DSGP.
Rapids defender and Monument, Colo. native Bobby Burling caught up with the team website before Friday’s practice and said Vancouver will be a tough place to play next and spoke about how difficult it will be to beat the ‘Caps for a third time.
Check out the full interview here.
Colorado and Vancouver square off on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 8 p.m. MDT. Catch the broadcast on Mile High Sports AM 1340 or Listen Live online.
