Earthquakes-Whitecaps FC Preview
Having fallen outside playoff position, the Vancouver Whitecaps will see their bid for the franchise's second postseason berth slip further into doubt if they don't end their scoreless drought soon.
Making matters worse, they might have to do it without second-leading scorer Darren Mattocks.
The Whitecaps hope to move into the fifth place in the Western Conference as they try to avoid a fifth straight shutout Wednesday night against the defensively challenged San Jose Earthquakes.
Vancouver coach Carl Robinson is searching for answers on the attack after a scoreless draw with D.C. United on Saturday made it 411 minutes since his team's last goal Aug. 10.
The Whitecaps attempted 15 shots in a new 4-4-2 setup but couldn't end their franchise-worst drought. Chivas USA has the league's longest scoreless streak this season when it was blanked in six straight matches July 25-Aug. 31.
Vancouver (7-6-13) trails rival Portland by one point for the West's final playoff spot with eight games left.
"You do go through periods. You go through winning streaks and losing streaks and tough streaks," Robinson told the league's official website. "We've just got to continue doing what we do, and hopefully we'll get a break."
Robinson's club, 1-3-6 since July 12, has totaled eight goals over its last 13 matches after scoring 25 times in its first 13.
Mattocks has scored four of the team's last six goals but might not be able to play. He was originally slated for a call-up with the Jamaican national team on Tuesday before suffering an injury against United, leaving his status for this game unclear.
Pedro Morales has a team-high seven goals, though he's scored once in his last 11 matches.
In the only meeting with San Jose this season, Morales scored twice in a one-minute span to give the hosts an early three-goal lead before they held on to win 3-2 on May 3. Vancouver's attack went quiet after Mattocks left with a hamstring injury in the 30th minute.
The Earthquakes (6-10-9) have struggled on the defensive side of late, allowing 16 goals over a season-worst six-game winless streak (0-2-4). They had a key win slip away Sunday, giving up a late goal in a 3-all draw at Portland.
Standing eight points back of the Timbers, San Jose would need a serious late push to avoid missing the postseason for the fifth time in seven seasons.
"I always feel confident that we're going to win, but that's why it feels so gutting to come away with a tie," forward Chris Wondolowski said. "We need wins at this point. We need as many points as we can."
Wondolowski finished with two goals Sunday, giving him seven in his last six road matches.
San Jose's all-time leading scorer also led the comeback attempt against the Whitecaps in May with a pair of second-half goals. He has nine goals in nine career games versus Vancouver.
The Earthquakes, however, are 0-4-2 against the Whitecaps since their only win in nine all-time meetings in April 2012. San Jose has lost all four of its visits to Vancouver since a tie in the first one.