TEST AGAINST THE BEST
Every team wants the opportunity to test themselves against the best and the ‘Caps will do just that on Sunday against defending MLS Cup champion Sporting Kansas City in town.
Whitecaps FC have yet to beat SKC in four previous meetings and a win won’t come easy either. Not only are SKC the top team in MLS heading into this weekend, they’ve also posted a league-best 7W-4L-0D record on the road.
That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, since their roster features U.S. national team World Cup stars Matt Besler and Graham Zusi – not to mention in-form striker Dom Dwyer, who’s tied for second in the league with 14 goals.
BREAKING THE DEADLOCK
Each of Vancouver’s last four matches have ended in draws – three of which came on the road.
On the one hand, it’s encouraging that Whitecaps FC are picking up points and not losing many games. Case in point: they’re one of three teams who have lost just four matches.
However, with the Western Conference playoff race already starting to heat up, the young ‘Caps know they’re going to have to start turning some of those draws into wins to make a move up the table.
THE MAESTRO
In Vancouver’s last home match, a thrilling 2-2 draw with FC Dallas, Pedro Morales took his game to another level. The Chilean dazzled the sold-out BC Place crowd with precise passes, a cheeky juggling display, and a whopping 12 shots – tying the all-time MLS record.
It’s going to be hard to follow up that kind of performance, but if anyone can do it, it’s the new ‘Caps captain. Morales has seven goals and eight assists this season, which is the most among first-year players in MLS.
He’s also one assist shy of tying the Whitecaps FC MLS single season club record, jointly held by Russell Teibert and Davide Chiumiento.
