VANCOUVER, BC – After an extended road trip, Vancouver Whitecaps FC are finally back on home soil this Sunday as they face Sporting Kansas City at BC Place. Here are three storylines to get you set for the match.
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RETURN HOME
Thanks to the Women’s World Cup, the ‘Caps haven’t played a match at BC Place since May 30.
It may have ended on a bum note but the team’s performance during their five-match stretch away from BC Place has been nothing short of impressive. With streak-busting wins in LA and New England to go alongside three points against the Red Bulls, the ‘Caps firmly established themselves as the league’s leading road team.
However, despite all of their success on the road, there’s no doubt that the squad are looking forward to walking out in front of the home faithful come 6 p.m. on Sunday.
“I think everybody’s excited to get back into BC Place again,” Ousted, who won the MLS Save of the Week award for the third time in a row, told reporters after training on Tuesday. “I think you’ll see a Whitecaps team that’s going to be at it from the start.”
Carl Robinson agrees.
“We want to play in front of our fans,” he told reporters this week. “It’s nice to be back home and it will be good to play in front of twenty-odd thousand at BC Place this weekend.”
SIX-POINTER
There are no easy games in this league but Sunday’s clash is certainly at the more difficult end of the MLS spectrum. Sporting Kansas City are a team in form. In fact, they’re the only team in the league currently averaging more points than Robinson’s team.
The 2013 MLS champs are enjoying life in the Western Conference and with just one defeat in their last nine they’re sitting menacingly in sixth place in the standings, just five points behind the ‘Caps. Peter Vermes’ side also have three games in hand over their opponents, which adds an extra edge to an encounter that could go a long way to defining the ‘Caps season.
“They’ve lost one in nine, Portland have won five in six, and they’re our next two games,” Robbo said of the upcoming fixtures. “We’re where we probably want to be at the moment, but we’ve got two difficult games ahead of us. The next five or six games will probably dictate where it’s going to end because the next five or six games are massive.”
MIDFIELD BATTLE
One of the most intriguing battles during Sunday night’s encounter will come in the heart of midfield where Matias Laba will be tasked with shutting down SKC’s Benny Feilhaber.
Feilhaber is undoubtedly the man to watch in the opposition midfield. The Brazilian born American leads SKC in chances created (37), successful passes (582), touches (1,046) and is also second in MLS with nine assists. With a goal and an assist in each of his last two starts he’s also hitting form at just the right time.
Clearly, stopping Felihaber from doing his thing will be a priority for Robinson’s team, but the good news is that in Laba they have the right man for the job. The Argentinian has been in fine form so far this season and the Blue and White will be looking for the midfield destroyer to continue his form against SKC on Sunday night.
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