VANCOUVER, B.C. - Whitecaps FC have stumbled, and tripped heading into the MLS playoffs. They waved goodbye to a first round western conference bye, and now they face the task of a knockout round match vs the San Jose Earthquakes tonight.
"We know now, it's put up or shut up," said Coach Carl Robinson. "We need to win the game, San Jose are exactly the same."
The easy route isn't an option, and hosting San Jose for the second consecutive home match at B.C. Place remains the hurdle for possible playoff advancement. Only this time, there isn't a margin for any error. Extra time, and penalties are certainly possible.
"Yeah, it's a very important game," Aly Ghazal said. "Now it's playoffs, so it's if you win it or you go home. It's very important for us and them as well. For us we need it, and we need to go as far as we can. We're going to do our best."
Vancouver need to be switched on from the start. They need to get the home crowd roaring. A slow and complacent start plays into the Earthquakes hands. An early goal, fantastic tackle, or brilliant save could set the tone for the home-side. San Jose will be looking to settle in and not be run off the turf in the opening stages of the match.
"We just want to hear the first whistle, try to run, and play as intelligently as we can", said skipper Kendall Waston. "We know in these games you can win, or you can lose in little details. We have to show all of those things, and try to be as sharp as possible. From the beginning, don't have a good half, and a bad half. We have to be very precise, good, sharp as possible from the beginning until the end."
San Jose holds a 1-0-1 record against Whitecaps FC this season. A 3-2 win at Avaya Stadium on March 11, and a 1-1 draw in Vancouver on October 15. Chris Wondolowski is that fox in the box that carries the Quakes offence. Everything runs through the U.S. international, who has 11 career MLS goals against Whitecaps FC.
How do you stop a striker like Wondo, who regularly feasts on Vancouver?
"I think he's a very important guy for their team," admitted Waston. "Sometimes he doesn't appear, and last-minute, boom. You see, he's scored. We have to be aware of all of them. If we get as much crosses in their box, we're going to get a lot of opportunities."
At the other end of the pitch, Fredy Montero will have to be a difference maker for Vancouver. The Caps leading goal-scorer has found himself in a bit of a slump, at the worst time of the season. His last goal came on September 23 vs Colorado.
The 30 year-old is also dealing with a knock to his calf which he sustained in practice on Thursday. Montero did come off the bench on Sunday at Portland. While he would like to compete for a full ninety it remains to see if his body will allow him.
"Yeah, I will," Montero said. "I'm going to try and do my best to just play 90 minutes, and that's for sure."
The momentum is clearly with the San Jose Earthquakes. A team that sports a 3-12-2 record away from home, plus an overall goal differential of negative - 21 should not be anywhere near playoff football. The Quakes are riding high with no expectations.
All the pressure is squarely on Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Yes, they squandered a first round playoff bye, but they still have a home playoff match, and it's imperative that they go and win. You don't want to end your year by going from first, to third, and out.
"Pressure for me, is not having money to buy milk for my son," Waston revealed. "This is trying to be as responsible as we can. We have to look at this match like the others, but the only thing is if we lose we go home, and we don't want to go home."
One team is going home, and the other will advance to the MLS western conference semi-finals. Vancouver is the higher seed, they have the depth, home crowd, and more scoring threats. San Jose has momentum, and nothing to lose. It's going to make for a fascinating match, and that's why we all love the beautiful game.
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