THREE THEMES

STOP THE TREND

The Whitecaps’ goals- against record in their first three games of the MLS season reads like this: zero, one, two. That’s called trending in the wrong direction. Now, they face a retooled Chivas USA squad that has scored seven goals in its last two games. Poor marking in the box led to both goals Vancouver gave up in Houston last weekend and the Caps spent plenty of time in practice this week working on that part of their game. The Goats have some dangerous athletes, having brought in a handful of players from Mexico who can flourish in the wide- open, attacking style favoured by new head coach Jose Luis Sanchez Sola.

WHAT WILL EL CHELIS SAY?

Sola, a. k. a. El Chelis, is an intriguing personality and a veritable quote machine, frequently peppering his comments with his unique brand of homespun wisdom. He has referred to his team a “fruit cocktail — you have a hard time figuring out what’s the watermelon and what’s the cantaloupe.” And he said Mexican- American players who have never suited up for Chivas USA is a “real tragedy. It is like having daughters, not knowing where they sleep and when you find them, they have each had three children and you think to yourself, ‘ How did this happen?’ ”

RUSIN HOMECOMING

It’s a homecoming of sorts for Caps’ centre back Brad Rusin. He was born in Indiana and grew up in Florida, but he played his university soccer at UCLA, where he was the captain and first- team All- Pac- 10 in his senior season. “My dad is living down in Orange County and he’s getting a suite for the game ( at The Home Depot Center), so there’s going to be quite a few people there.” The Bruins played mostly on campus, but did open the 2008 season, Rusin’s sophomore year, against Maryland at Home Depot.