After taking a two week break the Vancouver Whitecaps return to the pitch as they travel to Texas to end their four game losing streak against FC Dallas. The three points are more important considering their opponents are chasing them for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The starting lineup may have a few wrinkles especially in goal where there is a toss-up between Joe Cannon and Brad Knighton as to who will start in goal. The backline in front of whoever is the keeper will have a similar look as Jay DeMerit and Martin Bonjour are the healthier options in the central defense while Lee Young-Pyo and Alain Rochat look to return from their breaks at fullbacks.
In the midfield Gershon Koffie returns from injury and joins Barry Robson while the third spot will most likely go to Jun Marques Davidson. Up top Darren Mattocks will start as the target striker and should be flanked by Dane Richards on the right and Kenny Miller on the left.
The Whitecaps will need to go on the attack quickly in order to get the first goal as the Texas heat will most likely wear down the team late in the game. The pace of Mattocks, Richards and Miller will need to combine to keep the FC Dallas backline on their back foot. The service will need to improve from the midfield and the wide areas where you can expect their two full backs to join in on the attack.
If the Caps hope to beat Dallas and keep them off the scoresheet, their main objective should be to shut down David Ferreira who played an instrumental role in their last meeting. A couple of players who were unavailable for FCD last game were Brek Shea and Blas Perez and the Whitecaps will have to account for them.
Some of the players have labeled this match as a must win but the Caps will still hold an advantage if they lose by a point with a game in hand and an easier schedule. However a win will put them within six points of the playoffs and a draw will have them nine points away. More importantly a result will avoid a five game losing streak something that they didn’t even do in their dreadful first MLS season.
WHO’S ON FORM
It is very hard to find a player that fits this category during the four game losing streak so we go to Gershon Koffie who was playing so well and missed three of the last four due to injury and suspension. It may up to the Ghanaian to try to shut down Ferreira and control the midfield for the Whitecaps which was a big problem in the last game against FC Dallas.
Despite the feelings that Caps and their fans have towards David Ferreira, there is no coincidence that the club’s fortunes turned around when he rejoined the starting eleven. C Dallas started the season with a 3-6-9 record and since the 2010 MVP’s return the record has been 5-3-3 with the midfielder contributing two goals and six assists in that period.
(image courtesy of whitecapsfc.com)
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