KEY PLAYERS
ATTACKING
Whether he starts or comes off the bench, rookie Erik Hurtado is proving to be a valuable piece in the Caps attack. The team will need him to use his pace in order to catch the San Jose backline offguard because they are built more for physical players instead of those with speed.
Last season's golden boot winner Chris Wondolowski has started with two goals in his first five games. Better finishing from him and the total could be a lot more considering the number of chances he's had which will continue against the Caps on Saturday.
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DEFENCE
The previous match against Chivas was Y.P. Lee's weakest performance of the year so far. The Whitecaps need the World Cup vet, well most of the back line, to do a better job defending the box against crosses from open play or set pieces.
San Jose's mean, physical presence in the back line is Victor Bernardez. He is a force in the air when defending the box. The Honduran international has a knack for finding the net as well on set pieces, scoring twice last season.
WHO'S ON FORM
The only player who displayed any consistency on the attack against Chivas was Daigo Kobayashi, as a playmaker or attacker. His move to the middle for the final thirty minutes almost helped the Whitecaps come back from the two goal deficit.
Playing on the left side of the midfield Romairo Corrales is one of the main players who feeds the ball into the box for the strikers. The 36-year-old veteran seems to turn back the clock, already picking up a pair of assists and playing well in each their first five games.
PROJECTED LINEUP
Vancouver Whitecaps (4-3-3)
R to L - Joe Cannon; Y.P. Lee, Andy O’Brien, Brad Rusin, Alain Rochat; Nigel Reo-Coker, Gershon Koffie, Daigo Kobayashi; Erik Hurtado, Darren Mattocks, Camilo
San Jose Earthquakes (4-4-2)
R to L - Jon Busch; Ty Harden, Victor Bernardez, Jason Hernandez, Justin Morrow; Shea Salinas, Sam Cronin, Rafael Baca, Ramiro Corrales; Adam Jahn, Chris Wondolowski
INJURED/MISSING
Vancouver Whitecaps
Out: FW Omar Salgado (foot), DF Jay DeMerit (Achilles), MF Bryce Alderson (knee), FW Kenny Miller (hamstring)
San Jose Earthquakes
Out: MF Mehdi Ballouchy (knee), DF Steven Beitashour (hernia), DF Tommy Muller (back);
Questionable: MF Marvin Chavez (knee), DF Nana Attakora (groin), FW Steven Lenhart (knee)
2013 RECORD
Vancouver Whitecaps:
2W-0D-2L-6P
6th in Western Conference
Last Match: 2-1 Loss at Chivas USA
San Jose Earthquakes:
2W-1D-2L-7P
5th in Western Conference
Last Match: 2-0 Win at Houston Dynamo
OVERVIEW
Vancouver Whitecaps will attempt to end their three-game road trip on a positive note when they face last season's Supporters Shield winning San Jose Earthquakes. Last season the Caps had success against the Earthquakes, with two wins and a loss. The one loss may have been their best performance on the road except for a ten minute period in which they allowed three goals.
So far this season their first two matches away from home were duplicate 2-1 results against Houston and Chivas USA. Unfortunately the performance against Chivas has them trending downwards in all aspects of the field when compared to the first one versus Houston.
Despite the performance there should be little change to the defensive part of their lineup. Joe Cannon should see this start in goal as he returns to his old stomping grounds in San Jose. The backline will get a chance to redeem themselves for their mistakes with Andy O'Brien and Brad Rusin in the middle, while Y.P. Lee and Alain Rochat set up on the ends.
If there are any changes in the lineup it will most likely be in the midfield and attacking spots. There is a chance that Jun Marques Davidson will see the bench while Gershon Koffie and Nigel Reo-Coker play holding roles, with Kobayashi playing in front of them as a central player. In front of him could be Darren Mattocks with Erik Hurtado and Camilo onb either side, due to a hamstring injury for Kenny Miller that has seen him stay in Vancouver.
Generating chances on the attack in Houston and Chivas has not been a problem for Vancouver but finishing them off has been. Mattocks in particular could have three or four goals based on the number of chances he has had recently.
In the final 30 minutes against Chivas, after Miller and Hurtado came on, Rennie moved Kobayashi into more of a central role where he was more of a threat as a playmaker. His assist in the opener and his goal in the second match both came when Kobayashi found space in the middle of the pitch.
He has proven technical ability and the vision to find forwards in front of him and create dangerous chances for them. In addition, Kobayashi has enough of a work rate and is capable enough as a tackler that he will not be a liability defending for Vancouver.
The Caps will need to defend the Earthquakes better than they did against their opponents in the previous two matches, especially from crosses. One of the biggest threats will be Chris Wondolowski who is the defending MLS golden boot winner and has already had many chances this season and is just missing the finish.
The Quakes like to play through the wide areas and cross the ball into the box, especially from the left side where four of their five goals, the fifth coming off a penalty, have come from. It could even get worse for Vancouver if San Jose get Steven Lenhart and his aerial ability back from a knee injury.
It will be very disappointing for the Caps if they are unable to pick up any results from their first extended stay away from home. They've had periods of good play in their first two matches but will need a full 90 minutes in order to avoid returning home with a losing record and no points from the three games.
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