For all of the talk about the Whitecaps offense, it's actually the defense getting the job done.
Vancouver have yet to concede a goal in their 2-0-1 start to the 2012 season. Three straight shutouts have earned the Whitecaps seven points and sole possession of first place in the Western Conference.
Manager Martin Rennie, who took the reigns in the offseason, has his team playing much better this year. The 'Caps started with a 2-0 win over expansion side Montreal, then earned the franchise's first-ever road win against Chivas USA in week two. The club struggled offensively last week against D.C. United but held on for a 0-0 home draw.
Philadelphia and Vancouver split their inaugural series in 2011. A second half goal from Carlos Ruiz earned the Union three points at home while Alain Rochat's left-footed curler sealed a 1-0 Whitecaps win in British Columbia.
Whitecaps Attack
Designated Player Eric Hassli will not be available for the Whitecaps on Saturday. The Frenchman injured his ankle last weekend and did not travel to Philadelphia.
The absence of Hassli will no doubt affect Rennie's formation, which looks like 4-4-2 on paper, but plays much more like a 4-3-3 on the field.
On the left side of the formation is Camilo, who led the Whitecaps with 12 goals last year. The Brazilian is skilled on the ball and does best when running at defenders. He prefers to start wide left, then cut inside on his right foot across the top of the box. Camilo is also adept at hitting dead balls and will take the majority of Vancouver's free kicks.
On the right side is former Union striker Sebastien Le Toux. Philadelphia fans know his skill set. The Frenchman is full of energy and able to latch onto long balls while pressuring defenders for a full 90 minutes.
With Hassli missing, Rennie can run a 4-4-2 and bring in another midfielder. He could also keep the 4-3-3 and insert Atiba Harris into the lineup. Rookie forward Darren Mattocks is also unavailable.
In the midfield, Davide Chiumiento pulls the strings. He was the team leader with nine assists last year. The Switzerland native is good in all areas of the pitch but has spent most of his time on the right flank this season. Like Camilo, he's at his best when running at defenders. He's particularly skilled at hitting through balls while moving diagonally through the midfield.
The 'Caps midfield is rounded out by newcomers Jun Marques Davidson and Matt Watson, with Gershon Koffie as a third option.
Davidson and Watson will normally sit behind the front three and cover for Chiumiento when he goes forward. They provide a good shield for the Vancouver backline and did well to shut down Dwayne De Rosario last weekend. The pair started the last two games for Vancouver while Koffie played a full 90 against Montreal.
Whitecaps Defense
The Union catch a break with Rochat listed as OUT on the MLS Injury Report. The left back sprained his knee after a collision with United keeper Joe Willis and was replaced by former Union man Jordan Harvey.
Rochat's absence opens the door for Harvery to start at PPL Park. He's played an interesting role with Vancouver this year, normally coming in during the second half to help bolster the midfield. Against Montreal and Chivas he replaced Chiumiento and Camilo.
In central defense, captain Jay Demerit is having a much better 2012 season. He's finally fit, and playing well alongside new faces Martín Bonjour and Y.P. Lee on the backline.
At 6-3, the 26-year-old Bonjour is a big body in defense. Bonjour and Demerit have gobbled up balls in the box all year long and they have just enough speed to keep up with smaller strikers.
Lee brings a wealth experience to the right back spot. The South Korean made 127 appearances for his country over a 12 year period from 1999 to 2011. His stops include PSV Eindhoven, Tottenham Hotspur, Borussia Dortmund, and most recently Al-Hilal in the Saudi league. Lee is 34 years old but doesn't appear to have lost a step. He's quite capable of defending well while picking his spots to run forward behind Chiumiento on the right wing.
Goalkeeper Joe Cannon has been excellent so far. The veteran's acrobatic 67th minute save against DC was the difference between a home draw and a home loss. Former Union keeper Brad Knighton covered for Cannon against Chivas and helped preserve the shutout after Cannon left the game injured in the 41st minute. Cannon is not listed on the injury report.
With Rochat missing and Harvey likely to start, look for either Michael Boxall or Carlyle Mitchell to come off the bench if necessary.
Keys to the Game
While Vancouver's offense does pack a punch, their forwards and midfielders have not scored in the last two games.
Le Toux and Camilo found the net in the season opener, but the club needed a Demerit header to get by Chivas USA and failed to score at home against DC last week. Vancouver did not put a single shot on goal against United. If the 'Caps attack continues to struggle then the Union will obviously be better off.
It's going to be a challenge to break down the Vancouver backline. They haven't allowed a goal, so there's not much of a sample size to work with when it comes to identifying potential weaknesses.
The 'Caps backline has allowed 15 shots on goal this year, averaging out to five per game. One thing to note, however, is that they have yet to face a potent offense. Montreal, Chivas and DC have scored just one goal each through three games.
The Union played considerably better at home against Colorado than on the road against Chicago and Portland. Overlapping play from Keon Daniel and Gabriel Farfan provided opportunities against the Fire last weekend. Daniel and Farfan were able to exploit the right side of Chicago's defense in the second half, which led to the squad's best chances on goal.
If Gabriel Gomez and Brian Carroll can win the individual midfield battles, the Vancouver backline can be tested directly. The Whitecaps are making a long cross-country flight and will play in front of much more passionate crowd than they did against Chivas USA.
We'll see soon enough whether or not Vancouver's defense can continue to hold up against the Union, as well as how their offense will fare without Hassli.
