Caps can’t afford loss to Quakes
‘We have to beat them,’ de Jong says as Vancouver tries to stay in playoff picture
Time is running out for the Vancouver Whitecaps to clinch a postseason berth, but the team’s goalkeeper remains optimistic.
After all, the Caps (9-9-7) have taken home eight points from their last four league matches, Stefan Marinovic points out.
“We have now nine games and everything to play for,” he said after training this week.
“We have a good schedule coming up, a decent schedule where we can get the wins we need. So overall I think we’re pretty positive.”
Sitting in eighth place in the MLS Western Conference, Vancouver is three points back of the final playoff spot as it heads to San Jose to take on the Earthquakes (3-13-8) today.
The Whitecaps are riding a fourgame unbeaten streak in league play, but have been plagued by continued errors. Last weekend, they settled for a 2-2 draw with the New York Red Bulls after conceding a goal in the 90th minute.
Head coach Carl Robinson said after the game his team was “awful”
and “looked lethargic” in the first half.
“We have to be at our levels. If we’re not, it’s going to be very difficult to win games in the league,” he said after training this week.
The Caps have also struggled with keeping the ball out of the net, allowing 49 goals this season, second most in the Western Conference. The last time Vancouver had a clean sheet in league play was a 2-0 win April 27 over Real Salt Lake.
Marinovic said some of the goals have been “unfortunate” and he has played to the best of his abilities.
Shutting out San Jose would be a boost to the team, but the keeper said it wouldn’t affect his confidence.
“If we get (a clean sheet), that would be fantastic, but I’d rather concede five goals and score six in one game than play a 0-0 because that means three points,” he said.
Left-back Marcel de Jong said the club will need to be strong on both sides of the ball to defeat the Quakes.
“We’ve got to be sharp all over the pitch,” he said. “It’s the final stretch of the season and it’s all or nothing.”
San Jose sits at the bottom of the league’s table, but de Jong said his team isn’t underestimating any of its opponents as it pushes toward the post-season.
“We have to beat them because we want to make the playoffs. That’s basically it,” he said.
“I don’t think there’s much wiggle room left.”
Robinson said his team can’t take anything for granted heading into San Jose. The two teams battled to a 2-2 draw when they last met May 16 in Vancouver.
“We’ve got to go there full of confidence,” he said. “We know they’ve got good players. We know that they probably had a difficult year up and down, things haven’t gone their way. But it’ll be a difficult game for us. We’re under no illusions, but it’s a game that we firmly believe we can go and win.”