After playing the first 428 minutes of the season without allowing a goal, setting the MLS record, the Whitecaps backline imploded allowing three goals in ten minutes. Very few on the club expected the streak to continue through another 90 minutes but it was disappointing that mental errors were the cause, especially on two of the goals. After a week and a half of stewing with this loss the Whitecaps will face an undefeated Sporting Kansas City and see if they can bounce back from their first loss of the season.
With Alain Rochat not fully recovered from a knee injury, Joe Cannon will have the same backline of Lee, Bonjour, DeMerit and Harvey for the third straight match. Rennie is hoping that the four can seal the cracks that were exposed by the Earthquakes with DeMerit and Harvey needing better games especially. With two games this week, it looks as though Jun Marques Davidson will be given a rest for the SKC match which will mean that Koffie and Thorrington will pair in the middle of the park.
With the switch to a 4-4-2 formation, Chiumiento will move outside to the left side and Atiba Harris enters the lineup on the right. Up top Eric Hassli will be joined by his country man to form the striking pair but expect Le Toux to drop deep in the midfield to support the defensive efforts of central midfield.
At first glance the Whitecaps look as though they will face a vaunted attack but Sporting is one of the better defensive clubs in MLS as well allowing only one goal through six games which was scored on a free kick. The backline with the holding midfielders have started every game has allowed the fewest shots against (9) which has meant that Jimmy Nielsen has only had to make eight saves which is lowest among starters. There will be a new starter in the midfield as Julio Cesar has been ruled and his spot will most likely be taken by Paulo Nagamura.
The MLS league in assists, Graham Zusi, will be the key to their attack and he has two dangerous scorers at his disposal. Both Kamara and Sapong are off to fast starts as each has scored three goals and both are not afraid to unleash their shots on the net. Kamara is especially threatening as he leads the league in shots attempted and shots on goal while Sapong is load to handle in the box.
It was about a year ago when these visitors from the Midwest stormed out to a three goal lead before the Whitecaps got two in the late stages to salvage a draw and create one of the most memorable moments of their first season. The players involved in that game have unlikely forgotten it and it is unknown whether it will assist them or be a detriment in this match. The Caps also find their opponents playing their second of three games in a week which could see some players rested. These factors, including a certain player hearing it from a Canadian crowd, could assist in the Whitecaps handing Sporting KC their first loss of the season.
WHO’S ON FORM
While he still trying to find chemistry with all his teammates, Sebestien Le Toux is one of the hardest workers on the club. Despite starting as a striker, Le Toux was running all over the park as he intercepted passes and was consistently getting fouled earning the Caps free kicks.
One of the bigger reasons Sporting was comfortable in letting Jack Jewsbury go to Portland was the development of Graham Zusi. The league leader in assists has settled in a central role in the midfield where he is an excellent distributor and is one biggest threats in the MLS to score from set pieces from any distance.
(image courtesy of whitecapsfc.com)
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