After picking up seven of a possible nine points and sitting on top of the Western Conference early in the 2012 season, the Vancouver Whitecaps make their first trip east to face the Philadelphia Union. The two teams played tight matches and traded 1-0 results last season each winning their match on their home pitch. The game will also mark the return of Sebestian Le Toux, in addition to Jordan Harvey and Brad Knighton, to Philadelphia after being dealt in the offseason.
For a team that is sitting atop the Western Conference and has yet to taste defeat, there are a lot of questions being asked from people in the soccer circles. The biggest one is where are the goals considering the talent the Whitecaps and Martin Rennie assembled at the forward positions in the offseason. There will be a different look up top this week as the Whitecaps travel east to play the Philadelphia Union as Eric Hassli remains in Vancouver with an ankle injury.
The backline will have a different look in front of Joe Cannon as Jordan Harvey will replace Alain Rochat, due to injury, on the left side and attempt to fit in with DeMerit, Bonjour and Lee who have yet to allow a goal this season. There is a chance that Koffie may find a way back into the lineup replacing Watson as one of the holding midfielders alongside Jun Marques Davidson. Despite a minor injury, Camilo will take up one of the wide spots with either Atiba Harris or John Thorrington (both returning from injury) taking the other side. It looks as though Le Toux will take up the spot vacated by Hassli while Davide Chiumiento will play more of a central role behind the Frenchman.
It will be interesting how Rennie uses Le Toux as opposed to how Hassli was employed as the lone striker up top. During the match, Camilo may swap spots with Le Toux in order to create more movement and keep the opposition guessing. There will be more flexibility for Rennie to apply different formations especially if Thorrington is in the starting lineup as he could slide centrally to play a 4-3-3 or Rennie may have Chiumiento move wide moving Camilo up top in a 4-4-2. There is little chance that the Whitecaps sit back for this road game especially with a very inexperienced goalkeeper in Zac MacMath between the posts for Philadelphia.
The Whitecaps have gone 270 minutes without allowing a goal this season which has already surpassed last year’s high of 215 minutes near the end of the season. Against Philadelphia the Caps will have to pay special attention to the trio of Farfan, Torres and Adu who will play behind the strikers and will create most of the scoring opportunities. Their pair of strikers in Mwanga and Pajoy has yet to establish any chemistry so they will rely on their young midfielders.
The two teams exchanged 1-0 wins last year and a low scoring game should be expected once again in this matchup. The Whitecaps can expect Peter Nowak to play special attention to Le Toux as it seems he would rather lose by three plus goals keeping Le Toux off the scoresheet than to lose by one and it being the fan favourite coming home to score the winner. The Whitecaps will benefit their cause by scoring the first one which will undermine the confidence of a young goalkeeper and team. Another result on the road, no matter how achieved, would further the cause of Martin Rennie amongst his players in the locker room.
WHO’S ON FORM
It is clear now that last season’s injuries played a part as this year Jay DeMerit is meeting the expectations that were placed on him when he became the team’s first MLS signing. Through three games “Captain America” is leading a revamped backline to three cleansheets through three games
Even though the Union has only managed two goals so far this year, it is not due to second year player Michael Farfan who’s easily been their most dangerous player. A finalist for Rookie of the Year, Farfan is versatile enough to play anywhere in the midfield as well as a 2nd forward and is a possession type player who is excellent in tight spaces.
INJURIES/ABSCENCES
OUT: FW Etienne Barbara (groin strain), MF Michael Nanchoff (heel contusion), FW Darren Mattocks(shoulder), DF Alain Rochat (knee), MF Russell Teibert(international duty), MF Bryce Alderson(international duty) QUESTIONABLE: GK Brian Sylvestre (knee) PROBABLE: FW Camilo Sanvezzo (quad)
PHILADELPHIA UNION — OUT: FW Krystian Witkowski (concussion); PROBABLE: DF Chris Albright (L groin strain)
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
