United-Whitecaps FC Preview

There might have been a time when the Vancouver Whitecaps looked at their late-season schedule and pointed to D.C. United as a nice break from a cluster of opponents from the stacked Western Conference.

Now entering the final two months of the season, United is providing opponents with no such respite and has itself atop the East heading into Saturday night's visit to the Pacific Northwest.

After a three-win 2013, United (14-8-4) added to its conference lead with Sunday's 2-0 home victory over New York, featuring goals by Luis Silva and Eddie Johnson. Johnson has come on strong with four goals in six matches after managing one in his first 14 with United.

D.C. still needs to prove it can hang with contending clubs from the opposing table. Three of its four wins against the West have come against Colorado, San Jose and Chivas USA - the bottom three teams in the conference - while compiling a 1-4-0 record against the top six. Its last two visits to Western foes have resulted in losses to Los Angeles and Real Salt Lake by a 7-1 aggregate.

"We've definitely gained confidence from (New York), and (Vancouver is) a good team as well," midfielder Perry Kitchen told United's official website. "This is our last Western Conference opponent. I think we're 4-4 now; we'd like to end on a good note and get above .500."

The club is looking for its first victory in Vancouver after two previous visits resulted in a loss and a draw. The Whitecaps lead the all-time series 2-1-1.

While D.C. finishes up with seven games against the East, the Whitecaps' final eight come against the West.

Vancouver (7-6-12) was the league's second-best scoring team with 1.92 goals per game through June 7, but it has regressed significantly in the attack. The Whitecaps have been shut out in a franchise-worst three straight matches, and each result has been worse than the last on the 0-2-1 stretch.

Saturday's 3-0 loss to Portland was just the club's second at home by at least three goals in four seasons of MLS play.

The Whitecaps have scored eight goals in going 2-4-6 in their last 12 matches. They find themselves a point back of Portland for the fifth and final playoff spot in the West.

"It's been a pretty difficult two months for us," coach Carl Robinson told the club's official website. "We've picked up a few decent results without really capitalizing on big chances that we've had. But that's gone. We have to pull ourselves together and maybe it's a good time to do it now after being beaten 3-0 by Portland."

With a 4-0-5 record against the East, earning at least a point seems likely, despite the 321-minute scoring drought.

The good news is Vancouver will retain striker Darren Mattocks for the match before he leaves for a call-up with the Jamaican national team. Mattocks has scored four of the club's last six goals.

United will be without Chris Rolfe, who required surgery after fracturing his left forearm in a Wednesday training session. The midfielder is expected to miss six weeks.

D.C. announced Friday the signing of outside midfielder/defender Samuel Inkoom, but there's no word on when the Ghana international and two-World Cup veteran might join the team.