The Whitecaps return to their home pitch as try to forget their disappointment against LA and focus on their next opponents, the Conference leading Earthquakes from San Jose. The two clubs have split their first two meetings with San Jose winning at home while the Caps returned the favor by scoring a late winner at BC Place.
There is no surprise who starts in goal as Joe Cannon returns to the goal and could have his top backline in front of him with Lee on the right side with Rochat on the left. The central pairing will be Jay DeMerit and Martin Bonjour with Jun Marques Davison in front of them as the holding midfielder.
The two other central midfielders will be Gershon Koffie and Barry Robson who paired well in the last match against the Galaxy. Up top Darren Mattocks will start as the striker where he will be flanked by Dane Richards and Camilo on the left side with a chance that Kenny Miller starts on the bench.
On the pitch the Caps now have two ways to attack, through the middle with Koffie and Robson and down the wing using the pace of Richards. In addition the Quakes have never faced the speed of Darren Mattocks as he makes his runs down the middle of the pitch.
When defending, while it is easy to say, the Caps must keep track of Chris Wondowloski who is on record breaking pace for goals in MLS. They can’t allow him to slip away from them and find space in and around the box or they will be digging the ball out of their net. Another part of San Jose’s game that the Whitecaps will have to take care off is their ability to cross the ball from wide area.
The Whitecaps will have a tough task to beat the best team in the league twice in a year even if they are playing them at home two times. With so many fan favourites leaving the pressure will be on to get immediate positive results but there will need to some patience displayed by the supporters. However, if this team plays a full 90+ minutes they are capable of acquiring the full three points as they enter the all-star break.
WHO’S ON FORM
It was quite a home debut for Barry Robson in front of a sold out crowd at BC Place as not only did he score a goal but also controlled the midfield with Koffie. The Scot was very dangerous throughout the match especially on set pieces where he came very close to giving the Caps a third.
The much travelled striker Alan Gordon seems to have found a home playing next to Chris Wondolowski up front. Since starting in place of the injured Steven Lenhart the forward has three goals in four starts and four goals in his last six appearances.
(image courtesy of Bob Frid/Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
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