In the past two weeks the Whitecaps have suffered two straight disappointing road losses. This including 2-1 defeats to both the Houston Dynamo in week three and Chivas USA in week four. The Whitecaps are yet to win a game on the road so far this season but they have the chance to repair the damages this weekend.
Match Prelude
The Caps are set to take on the San Jose Earthquakes, a team in which they have been very successful against in the past. These two sides have met a total of 5 times since the Caps joined the league back in 2011. In those five meetings the Whitecaps have come out as victors twice, drawn three and only lost once. That is a great record for a fairly new team against an MLS powerhouse like the Quakes.
The most recent meeting between these two sides took place back in July of 2012 when the Caps and Quakes finished in a 2-2 draw. Both Whitecaps' goals coming from the big Frenchman, Eric Hassli, who now plays for FC Dallas.
What To Expect
The Whitecaps are still in need of improvement from the backline all the way through to the strikers. The Caps' defenders will definitely be put to test against the Earthquakes with the likes of Chris Wondolowski in the lineup. The final result of this match will come down to whether or not the Whitecaps' back-four are capable of dealing with the Quakes' talented attackers. This is something that will be the deciding factor in this match.
Another thing that will make or break this match for the Whitecaps is the quality of finish in front of goal. There is a good chance that scoring chances will be sparce so the Caps must take advantage when they can. One thing they are certainly good at is counter attacking, especially with all the speed up front. When the Whitecaps win possession of the ball, it is important for them to break out right away and try to catch the Quakes players out of position.
Keys To The Match
– Finish In Front Of Goal: This will be crucial in winning this match because chances may be at a minimum. I cannot stress this enough because so far this season, the finishing has been rather tragic.
– Mark Tight In The Box: Loose marking in the box on set pieces and crosses has been the cause for 3 out of the last 4 goals the Whitecaps have conceded. This must be fixed, and it may be wise to have two Caps defenders keeping an eye on Wondolowski, rather than just one. Also, the Caps defenders must not get caught ball watching because they have been guilty of that numerous times so far this season.
– Counter Attack: The Whitecaps must take advantage of the speed in their side, with the likes of Hurtado, Camilo, and especially Mattocks. When the ball is won by the backline or midfield, the Caps must try to break out and counter attack. This will create a lot of chances by catching Quakes' players out of position.
Prediction
I do not expect enough of an improvement from the last two matches to see a Caps win this weekend. I do not think all the major problems will have been fully addressed at this point but hopefully they have worked on in the Whitecaps' training. Expect a very tight match like the majority of the past meetings between the Whitecaps and Earthquakes have been. My final prediction is:
Whitecaps 2 – Earthquakes 2
Match Details
Where: Buck Shaw Stadium in San Jose, California.
When: Saturday, April 6th, Kickoff at 7:30pm PST.
Who: Vancouver Whitecaps vs San Jose Earthquakes
How: Broadcasted on Sportsnet Pacific in Canada and also on MLS Live.
