KEY PLAYERS
Attacking
With the midfield struggling so much against Seattle, the Caps need a boost and may get it with the possible return of Daigo Kobayashi from injury. The Japanese midfielder will most likely play in a central attacking role behind the striker where he will be required to help the team in maintaining possession and creating opportunities for the attack in the final third.
The Revolution have searched for a consistent goalscorer for the last several seasons and may have found one in Homegrown product Diego Fagundez. The eighteen year old has scored five times in his last eight starts in which the team has four wins and three draws. So far this season Fagundez has shown he is capable of playing either wing spots or as a withdrawn striker for the Revolution.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
Defence
A rash of injuries has hit the Whitecaps in the centre of the defence with DeMerit, O’Brien and Rusin all out for the time being so the team has recalled Carlyle Mitchell from FC Edmonton. The athletic defender, who is coming off an injury himself, will take over the role of O’Brien as the organizer of the backline and the key component in dealing with balls coming into the box via the air.
One of the biggest reasons for the turnaround in the defensive third is the addition of Jose Goncalves who came on loan from Switzerland. The defender is a physical imposing player who has become the vocal leader of the backline in his spot at centrehalf. With his experience in the Champions League, Goncalves has recently taken over the role as captain.
WHO’S ON FORM
He may have started as a central attacking player this year but Russell Teibert may have found his ideal place as a winger on the right side of the midfield. The young Canadian has set up the team’s last three goals with crosses that found Miller for the winner against New York as well as the two that Camilo was able to head in versus Seattle.
After a shaky start of the season for Bobby Shuttleworth has become one of the top goalkeepers in MLS. He currently leads all regular starters in a number goalkeeping categories including goal against average, save percentage and cleansheets where he has racked seven in twelve starts.
PROJECTED LINEUP
Vancouver Whitecaps (4-3-3) R to L- Brad Knighton; Lee Young-Pyo, Carlyle Mitchell, Johnny Leveron, Jordan Harvey; Jun Marques Davidson, Nigel Reo-Coker, Daigo Kobayashi; Russell Teibert, Kenny Miller, Camilo Sanvezzo
New England Revolution (4-1-4-1) R to L- Bobby Shuttleworth; Andrew Farrell, Stephen McCarthy, Jose Goncalves, Chris Tierney; Scott Caldwell; Saer Sene, Lee Nguyen, Kelly Rowe, Diego Fagundez; Juan Agudelo
2013 RECORD
Vancouver Whitecaps:
4W-4D-4L-16P
7th in Western Conference
Last Match: 2-1 Win at New York Red Bulls
New England Revolution:
5W-5D-4L-20P
6th in Eastern Conference
Last Match: 0-0 Draw vs D.C. United
OVERVIEW
Vancouver Whitecaps will try to rebound from another disappointing loss to a rival as they face the Revolution from New England at B.C. Place. In the three MLS meetings the two teams have played against each other, the Revs have won twice at home while they drew at Empire Stadium in 2011.
There will be some changes to the lineup from last week but Brad Knighton will remain as the number one keeper. The Caps have recalled Carlyle Mitchell back from Edmonton and he will partner with Johnny Leveron for the first time while Y.P. Lee and Jordan Harvey start at the fullback positions.
Once again the Caps will face one of the hottest teams in the League. The Revs are currently in a five game unbeaten streak in MLS which includes three wins and two draws. If you include the two U.S. Open Cup wins against New York and Rochester the streak is extended to seven games.
The number one facet of their team that has significantly improved is the defensive play. They are the top defensive team in MLS. In fourteen games this season the two keepers have combined for a total nine cleansheets with Shuttleworth getting seven of them.
On the other hand they have been blanked by their opponents in six of the fourteen games this season. The attack has been sparked up recently with them scoring 11 of their 15 goals this year in five of their last six games.
The Whitecaps will need to attack quickly and apply pressure the relatively younger Revolution side. They will need more connectivity from the midfield if they want to create more than the usual attempts on target.
The newly paired Mitchell and Leveron will have a lot of pressure on them, with their only experience of playing together coming in training. The two will need help from their fellow defenders including their holding midfielder Jun Marques Davidson.
Before the season started this stretch would have been considered an easy one considering they had back to back home games against the Revolution and Chivas USA. However this is a match the Caps cannot take lightly. A loss would see them lose more ground in the playoff race and put more pressure on Martin Rennie.
<p>