KEY PLAYERS
Attacking
The Whitecaps have struggled in controlling the midfield in their recent games and are hoping the return of Gershon Koffie from injury will help with that. He saw some action against D.C. United on the weekend and will most likely start and try to play an attacking role. Koffie will be needed to be the connection between the defenders and the strike force of Miller and Camilo.
It will be a tough test for the Whitecaps in facing Claudio Bieler who is the running for the golden boot with eight goals scored so far this season. Sporting KC may have finally found the clinical finisher they have been looking for in the striker and he surely will be able to surpass the eleven goal mark that has been the team high over the last five seasons.
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Defence
As the season goes on Johnny Leveron is getting better with each game and is becoming a solid defensive player. He is getting better at tracking opposing strikers as well as being able to clear the ball out of the box. In addition to that he has been asked to apply pressure on a higher line and be a distributor from the backline, which was a major factor in the match against Chivas USA but not needed on the weekend. The unfamiliarity in playing alongside Brad Rusin will need to see the young Honduran step up as a leader at the back and not play a secondary role.
One of the top defenders in MLS, Aurelien Collin has led the backline in becoming a top defence in MLS. The French defender, who has played all over Europe, is both a physical and technical defender and comfortable on the ball. In addition to his stellar defensive play, Collin is also a threat on set pieces already scoring two goals this season.
WHO’S ON FORM
The recent dynamic attack of the Whitecaps has been revitalized by Kenny Miller who been the focal point. He has scored three goals in the month of June including two game winners and was named 'Player of the Week' after his game against New England. Even though he doesn’t have an assist to his name, his work rate and high pressure has led to multitude number of chances.
After impressing in the EPL in his part time role with Norwich City, Kei Kamara returned to MLS and Sporting KC continuing his scoring ways. He has averaged ten goals over the last three seasons and is well on his way to matching this, scoring four goals in his last four appearances. While he plays on the wing for the most part Kamara will make runs into the middle where he can utilize his size and do some damage.
PROJECTED LINEUP
Vancouver Whitecaps (4-3-3) R to L - Brad Knighton; Nigel Reo-Coker, Brad Rusin, Johnny Leveron, Jordan Harvey; Jun Marques Davidson, Matt Watson, Gershon Koffie; Kekuta Manneh, Kenny Miller, Camilo Sanvezzo
Sporting Kansas City (4-3-3) R to L - Jimmy Nielsen; Chance Myers, Aurelien Collin, Matt Besler, Seth Sinovic; Lawrence Olum, Oriol Rosell, Graham Zusi; Soony Saad, Claudio Bieler, Kei Kamara
2013 RECORD
Vancouver Whitecaps:
7W-4D-5L-25P
4th in Western Conference
Last Match: 1-0 Win at D.C. United
Sporting Kansas City:
7W-5D-5L-26P
4th in Eastern Conference
Last Match: 3-2 Win vs Columbus Crew
OVERVIEW
The Vancouver Whitecaps are coming off a successful June (12 points in 5 games) and continue their trip through the Eastern conference to face Sporting Kansas City. While the Caps have yet to beat them in three MLS meetings (2L, 1D) their first meeting in 2011 almost felt like a win when Vancouver came back from three down late in the match to earn a point.
Once again there will be shuffling in the lineup as the Caps welcome back a couple of injured players and see two go off for international duty. Coming off his first cleansheet, Brad Knighton continues as the number one keeper and will have a new partnership in front of him as Johnny Leveron combines with Brad Rusin while Jordan Harvey and Nigel Reo-Coker continue at fullback.
The midfield will see the return of the Gershon Koffie and he should join Matt Watson and Jun Marques Davidson in the middle of the pitch. Support for Kenny Miller and Camilo in the forward ranks could come from the likes of Corey Hertzog, Kekuta Manneh or Darren Mattocks.
After the win against United the Caps are coming into this match with the hope that they will be able to extend their win streak to four which will be their longest since joining MLS. They will be hurt both up top and on the backline with the loss of Russell Teibert and Carlyle Mitchell to the Gold Cup, but should be stronger in the midfield with Koffie returning to the starting eleven.
Against Sporting KC, the Caps will be facing one of the best backlines in the league and a top five defence. The central defenders are especially strong with Aurelien Collin and Matt Besler forming one of the best partnerships in MLS.
Their attack is also strong with their new designated player Claudio Bieler leading the team with eight goals and it has gotten even stronger since Kei Kamara returned from Norwich City of the EPL. While he is off his pace of the 15 assists he picked up last season, Graham Zusi is still a threat as a playmaker and is capable of scoring from distance as well.
The Whitecaps have had better luck finishing in recent games but in order to continue that trend they need to include the midfield in the buildup of the play. There have been too few touches by whoever starts in the three man mid as the Caps seem to be using their wide players to move the ball up the field.
The biggest worry defensively will have to be the newly formed partnership of Rusin and Leveron. Both players normally play on the left side of the backline. Because of this, the Whitecaps might employ a two holding midfielders to protect the defenders behind them.
For the last few games the Whitecaps have not started well and were dominated in possession and gave up quality chances. The three games before the D.C. United one this weekend saw the Caps give up the first goal.
It almost happened this weekend as well if it were not for a big save by Knighton and a follow up block by Carlyle Mitchell. Against a top team like KC the Whitecaps will need to come out strong and avoid falling behind if they have any chance to escape with any points.
It will be a tough task for the Whitecaps to continue to their win streak with the combination of playing on a short week and the Wednesday match being played in the City of Fountains. However if they can get a positive result it will mean they will be able to carry over the momentum from June to July.
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