Caps look to keep it Real in Salt Lake
THE BIG MATCHUP
Cristian Techera vs. Demar Phillips The Bug seems to have a taste for Salt Lake. The Whitecaps’ midfielder has scored five goals in six games against the Claret and Cobalt, compared with 10 against the rest of MLS. RSL will have to limit his space on the wing, especially on the counter. Left-back Demar Phillips — all five-foot-six, 132 pounds of him — will likely get tasked with that the job. Against TFC, he had five tackles and five interceptions — just the fourth time since the start of 2016 that an RSL player has accomplished that.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME 1. CROSSES TO BEAR
Can it be overstated just how cross-centric the Caps’ offence is? It’s where the majority of their goals are developed from, including both in last week’s road win over Columbus. Striker Kei Kamara, who made a perfect redirection of a Felipe cross for the winner, said that’s what made coming to Vancouver attractive. “I came to this system, because know this system plays that way. Get the ball to where it’s supposed to go; and when it comes in the box … it’s all about the delivery,” he said. “Scoring goals with my head, I think that’s the only thing I know how to do. Some people shoot three pointers, and that’s what they’re really good at. I call mine the dunk; you put it up there, and I can get it.”
2. STAY ALL OVER ALBERT
It took five games for DP Albert Rusnak to score his first-career MLS goal, and it came against Vancouver the last time the Caps visited RioT. He added two assists to boot in the 3-0 victory last April. “That was a start for us in the league to start winning games. For me ... it was my first goal so that’s obviously one to remember,” said Rusnak, who has yet to score from the run of play this season, his lone goal coming from the spot against the New York Red Bulls two weeks ago.
3. A MAUND-STER GAME
If centre-back Aaron Maund slots into the lineup this weekend, it will be the first game he’s played against his former club. He spent four years there, playing 77 games and being named defensive MVP in 2015. “It’s just another game I want to win,” Maund told Red Nation’s Harjeet Johal. “It’s no bad blood, nothing. I just want to win the game. I mean it was a long time I was there. I have a lot of good memories. Salt Lake was an invaluable
4. THE WALKING WOUNDED
There were several notable absences from Wednesday ’s training session, including Yordy Reyna, Brek Shea and Jordon Mutch. Reyna is dealing with a foot injury that caused him to miss last week’s game, while Shea and Mutch are rehabbing recent knocks, with their status listed as day-by-day.
5. GOAL DIFFERENTIAL
RSL has had its difficulties on both sides of the ball so far this season. The side’s four goals for and nine against are tied for the worst marks in the Western Conference, and their home-team rating of 6.61 is the second-worst in MLS. Salt Lake switched from its usual 4-3-3 this season, playing a 4-2-3-1 against Toronto, but found pay dirt only on an 82nd-minute marker from Corey Baird.