Philadelphia Union (1-6-3, 6 points) at Vancouver Whitecaps (5-3-2, 17 points)
What: Major League Soccer regular season match; When: Saturday, 7 p.m.
Where: BC Place, Vancouver, B.C.
TV: The Comcast Network featuring play-by-play announcer Jonathan Yardley and analyst Peter Pappas
Radio: None; Social: Follow the action via Twitter: @TheUMatchday
Perhaps a long road-trip is just what the doctor ordered. After a turbulent week for the club both on, and off the field, the Union will make their longest trek of the season hoping to find a little good fortune along the way.
Of course, it won’t be easy for a club in dire need of a win. The cross-continent trip to Vancouver, a team tied for the league lead in points, is daunting to say the least. But the once-surging Whitecaps have won just once in their last five MLS games and have scored just four goals during that stretch – and just two in their last four contests. Still, head coach Jim Curtin knows just how difficult of a game it will be for his club.
“Everybody talks about how they are a young, dynamic, attacking team,” he said. “But if you look right now, their back line is playing as good as any right now. I think Matthias Laba does a very good job, is underappreciated in our league, breaks up a ton of plays, is a big reason they lead the league in clean sheets.”
Yes it is Octavio Rivero, Pedro Morales and Darren Mattocks who steal most of the headlines regarding the ‘Caps, but for good reason. Rivero leads the league in shots (36), shots on goal (16) and is second in goals with five. Morales has three assists, all of which were on game-winners – another category that leads the league – and is tied for third in chances created, a stat that not-so coincidentally, Vancouver leads the league in as a team.
But it’s what they’ve done defensively is arguably the reason for success. The anchor has been Kendall Watson, a 6-foot-5 bruising center back who is second in MLS in clearances. He’s started all 10 games along the back line and gets plenty of help from Pa-Modou Kah and fullbacks Steven Beitashour and Sam Adekugbe. Finally, goalkeeper David Ousted has five clean sheets, the most in MLS, and owns a 0.90 goals against average.
“It’ll be tough to go there on the road,” Curtin said “We’ll have to put together a game plan to defend well first, obviously, then look to hit them a little on the counter.”
Getting back to the counter-attacking style that served the Union so well since Curtin took over has been a priority. But a litany of injuries has derailed the team’s midfield (and just about everywhere else, too). Curtin has been forced to shuffle captain Maurice Edu back-and-forth between midfield and defense, but Edu's calming influence might be better served in the midfield, especially with center back Richie Marquez making an immediate impact in his MLS debut last week.
Marquez, the No. 44 overall pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, certainly waited a while for his first opportunity, but made the most of it. Along with Ethan White, he help shut down arguably the best forward tandem in the league in Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco.
“You’re not going to play two better players than Jozy and Giovinco,” Curtin said. “So, again, that’s a baptism by fire that Richie got. He was up for it. He’s a player that rises to the occasion.
“Is it a whole other animal on the road?” he continued. “It certainly is. For a young player, it’s a big jump to go on the road and know what that entails at the center back spot… But those are the moments when you’re going to have to grab ahold of things and trust in your abilities, and make a couple good plays and realize something will click. And I think it did.”
Following the successful 85 minutes Marquez put in against Toronto, he could be in line for his first MLS start, especially if Steven Vitoria (groin) can’t go. The rest of the back-line seems to be set in stone after the team allowed just three shots on target against Toronto – the second fewest they had allowed all year.
Ray Gaddis, who has recently switched to his more natural position at right back is in-line to make his 53rd consecutive start in MLS play.
“I think Ray’s always been the one who has been, for lack of a better word, sacrificed, and moved to the left to play on his weak foot,” Curtin said. “And at this stage, I made the decision now to move him to the right… We’ll let Ray be the one that tries to make that position his moving forward, and can work on all the angles and different things to play passes out with his right foot.”
Of course, the question on everyone’s mind is where the Union will go in net. Both Andre Blake (right medial meniscus tear) and John McCarthy (concussion symptoms) suffered injuries Tuesday in practice. The team’s third goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi hasn’t been training with the club in more than a month. The team could look into the league’s pool for a goalkeeper, a short-term loan (similar to what Montreal did for Champions League), or look for a more permanent solution.
“We still will explore what’s the best option to get us a chance to get a result in Vancouver,” Curtin said. “Again, it’s an environment in Vancouver where you’re going to have to make some saves to keep us in the game for sure, no matter who is in goal. Hopefully [Rais] will be up to the task if we do decide to go with him.”
The never-ending injury list doesn't end there, though. In addition to the keepers and Vitoria, the Union will be without Michael Lahoud (hip flexor) and Antoine Hoppenot (left hamstring) and could be without Vincent Nogueira (right ankle) and Eric Bird (hernia).
"The group’s been through a lot already this year in terms of crazy finishes, some things going against you, some injuries, some difficult things," Curtin said. "It’s still a tough group, I think that we are still together and we’re going to fight to try and get a result in Vancouver, a tough place. Nothing really galvanizes a team more than winning together. That’s the only solution at this point. You can talk about having team meetings, closed door staff meetings, talking about trading guys, bringing in new players, keeping the group together, whichever you decide. The only thing that solves it is the 90 minutes on the field and getting the result."
What do you think is a gameplan for success against Toronto FC? Leave your comment below.
Contact Union press officer Chris Winkler at cwinkler@philadelphiaunion.com.
