Vancouver Whitecaps send Colorado Rapids to seventh straight defeat

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Colorado 1-2 Vancouver: Reyna the difference maker

Yordy Reyna provided a goal and assist in the first half as the Vancouver Whitecaps downed Colorado Rapids 2-1.

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:30 am

Yordy Reyna scored the winning goal and added an assist as the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps edged the Colorado Rapids 2-1 on Friday night.

Reyna's goal in the 39th minute stood up as the winner as he gave the Caps an insurmountable 2-0 lead. He fired home a first-time shot after an Alphonso Davies cross deflected off two Colorado defenders.

The Whitecaps are unbeaten in five games, but they earned only their second win in their past 10 outings following four straight draws. The Rapids suffered their seventh straight loss.

Cristian Techera, with his fourth goal in three games, also scored for the Whitecaps. Edgar Castillo responded for the Rapids. All the scoring was completed in the first half.

Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson completely revamped his back line. International duty and at least one injury factored into the moves. Captain and top central defender Kendall Waston is away with Costa Rica for the World Cup in Russia, and left back Marcel de Jong has a hamstring injury. But Robinson has also been displeased with his club's defensive play.

Robinson made six lineup changes altogether. Meanwhile, Colorado coach Anthony Hudson made three changes to his starting lineup.

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The Whitecaps entered the game with four straight ties. But unlike in recent games, they played with the lead throughout instead of having to rally.

Techera put the Whitecaps on the scoreboard in the 17th minute as he took a short pass from Reyna on the right flank, turned inside a defender and lifted a shot over Colorado goalkeeper Tim Howard.

After Reyna put the Caps ahead 2-0, Castillo cut the Rapids' deficit in half in the 41st minute as he one-timed Johan Blomberg's pass during a scramble.

The Rapids almost tied the game in the 78th minute as Shkelzen Gashi got behind Vancouver's back four and volleyed a wayward Doneil Henry header. However, the ball went sideways across the goalmouth and out of bounds, and Colorado's losing streak continued.

Reyna's winning tally was his first away marker and eighth of his two-year MLS career.