Rapids: Because of injuries and a suspension, strikers Casey and Omar Cummings have played together only 188 minutes this season (just over two games) … The Rapids have not repeated the same starting lineup yet this season and will not again tonight because Pablo Mastroeni is out because of yellow card accumulation … Twenty players have started at least one match, and only four have started in every game (Drew Moor, Jeff Larentowicz, Matt Pickens and Kosuke Kimura).
Whitecaps: An expansion team, Vancouver fired coach Teitur Thordarson May 30 after the team started 1-5-6. He was replaced by Tom Soehn, who is 1-4-2. … Soehn played for the Colorado Foxes, 1992-94. … On Thursday, the Whitecaps acquired former Rapids defender Jordan Harvey from Philadelphia. … Starting goalkeeper Joe Cannon played for the Rapids from 2003-06. He was 2004 MLS goalkeeper of the year. His backup, Jay Nolly, grew up in Littleton and attended Chatfield High.
Spotlight on Eric Hassli: Vancouver signed the striker as a “designated player” in March. Making $900,000 this season (more than twice the highest-paid Rapids player, Conor Casey), Hassli is known for physical strength and technical ability. He scored one of the league’s best goals this year, flicking up a ball at the right corner of the penalty area, then turning and volleying a hard shot just inside the upper left corner June 11 against Seattle.
