Win over Loons vital if Caps hope to push for playoff spot
Riding three-game win streak, Minnesota has found formula still eluding Vancouver
While the playoff pursuit in Major League Soccer is more marathon than sprint, the Vancouver Whitecaps know they need to pick up the pace to catch the Western Conference front-runners.
A win tonight against the visiting Minnesota United FC Loons would at least get the Whitecaps back in the race.
Minnesota sits two points up on Vancouver, and both teams trail the sixth-place Real Salt Lake side that holds the final playoff position. RSL has 30 points, followed by Minnesota with 28 and Vancouver with 26.
Saturday’s match kicks off at 7 p.m. and will be televised on TSN 2 and carried on TSN 1040 AM radio.
KEY MATCHUP
Darwin Quintero vs. Kendall Waston
The Whitecaps finally got a shutout Wednesday in their Canadian Championship semifinal match — their first since a 2-0 win April 27 against Real Salt Lake — but Vancouver’s big centreback will be tested by Loons’ DP Darwin Quintero, who has six goals in his last five games, including a hat trick against Toronto.
The elusive, quicksilver striker has a goal in three consecutive games, all wins for the rising United squad.
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH 1. Full strength again
There is little doubt Alphonso Davies will slot into the lineup once again, but with the team playing its seventh game since June 23, squad fatigue could be an issue. Coach Carl Robinson alluded that striker Kei Kamara was questionable for Saturday after playing Wednesday night against Montreal.
“I wanted to win the (Impact) game and I thought putting Kei in would help us,” said Robinson. “That might change again on Saturday because three games in a week for older players is a little difficult.”
But with the uphill task facing the team in making the Major League Soccer playoffs, Robinson might ask his core players to push through their tired legs.
2. Wild Wild West
Minnesota is in seventh place, two points behind Real Salt Lake for the final playoff berth, and two points up on ninth-place Vancouver with 13 games to go. Tonight’s game is the beginning of a huge final third of the season, with both teams capable of climbing the standings with a West-heavy schedule.
The Loons play nine of their remaining 13 games against Western Conference teams, and the Whitecaps 10 of 13. Heading into Thursday’s action, only five points separated the Caps and fourth-place Galaxy.
3. Final form
Minnesota comes in having won three straight, with much of their success down to the 3-5-2 formation they’ve adopted. Their back line is winning more aerial battles, causing more turnovers and reduced unneeded fouls conceded in their own third.
“I think the team has embraced more of a defensive mentality, especially in the middle of the field in getting back and organizing,” United sporting director Manny Lagos told twincities.com. “That comes and goes with confidence ... and goes with getting the right players out there to do well.”
4. Home cooking
While not the fortress it once was, Vancouver has dropped just two of 10 games at B.C. Place Stadium this season, having scored at least two goals in seven of their 10 home games. The Loons, however, have been the league’s worst road team, with just one positive result — a 2-1 win over Orlando on March 2 — away from TCF Bank Stadium. They ’ve lost all seven since then to sit 1-8-0 on the season.
5. Stand on guard
Both the Whitecaps and Loons have had issues defensively, with the Caps topping the West’s charts with 42 goals allowed, just ahead of MUFC, who are tied for second with 40.
That number stands out more with Minny, however, as they lead the league in tackles per game (22.1), while Vancouver sits midpack at 17.2.