Dynamo offence vs. depleted defence
WHITECAPS: League’s top-scoring team faces Vancouver squad without both its starting centre-backs
How’s this for timing? The Houston Dynamo, who visit B.C. Place on Saturday (7 p.m., TSN2, TSN 1040), have scored an MLS-record 11 goals through three games.
And the Vancouver Whitecaps will be without their first-choice centrebacks, Kendall Waston and Tim Parker, due to international call-ups. Talk about a simple storyline. “We’ll deal with it, there’ll be no complaints,” said Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson, whose team is one of six playing MLS games this weekend as FIFA World Cup qualifiers take centre stage.
“We know we’ve got a strong squad and obviously some of the boys will get their opportunity this week.”
This weekend was supposed to be Christian Dean’s big chance to make a statement. Instead, he’s looking at a three-month recovery from foot surgery.
Robinson can turn to veteran PaModou Kah, who returned to practice this week after nursing a leg injury. Who partners with Kah is the big question, and based on the early signs this week it looks like Robinson is leaning toward veteran midfielder Andrew Jacobson over rookie Cole Seiler, the Caps’ 16th pick in January and natural centre-back.
Robinson snagged Jacobson, 30, in a trade with New York on March 11. The deal was to solidify the Caps’ midfield, but Robinson also knew he could turn to the Palo Alto, Calif., native on defence in a pinch.
“We’ll see (who plays),” Caps keeper David Ousted said. “I think Andrew is a fantastic player, both in the midfield and being able to step into the back line. We’ll see what Robbo wants to do.”
To a man, the Caps are talking up this weekend as a chance to show off their depth. They’re also without forward Blas Perez, winger Christian Bolanos and midfielder Marco Bustos to international call-ups.
Houston has lineup concerns of their own. Boniek Garcia is with Honduras, Erick Torres with Mexico’s U23s, and midfielder Cristian Maidana and forward Giles Barnes are both on the injured list with keeper Tyler Deric.
“It just goes to show the importance of building a roster and I think we’ve put together a great roster,” said Caps left-back Jordan Harvey, who has stepped in at centre-back the odd time in his career.
“I don’t know if all other teams have the depth we have. Going into these (international) breaks, I think we have the advantage.”
Houston’s hot start came crashing to a halt at the New York Red Bulls last weekend. A 3-2 lead evaporated in six minutes as Felipe scored two outstanding late goals.
So while the Dynamo’s impressive offensive start — seven different goal scorers — has to be respected, they’ve also been soft defensively, conceding seven.
And it won’t have gone unnoticed by the Caps that Houston’s goals were absolute gifts from the Red Bulls’ shocking defending.
Regardless of who Robinson picks in central defence Saturday, it will be about limiting mistakes because Will Bruin is sure good at making teams pay for them.
“It’s wild at the moment in MLS,” Robinson said. “There’s loads of goals being scored and some very average defending, our team included. We’ve put that to bed last weekend (a 2-1 win in Seattle).
“We’ve got to make sure we concentrate on ourselves. It’s about individual battles all over the park.”
“It just goes to show the importance of building a roster and I think we’ve put together a great roster.”
— Jordan Harvey