Union-Whitecaps FC Preview
The Vancouver Whitecaps haven't been earning points as easily for the last month, but the Philadelphia Union have been handing them out all season.
After an impressive start, one of the Western Conference front runners will try to win for the second time in six matches Saturday night against the Union, who dip to a third-string goalkeeper as they try to avoid matching a single-season record with a fourth straight loss.
After last Saturday's scoreless draw in Portland, Vancouver (5-3-2) is 1-2-2 in its last five.
The Whitecaps are also aiming to improve at home, where they're 2-2-1 after ending last season with a 4-0-1 home stretch in which they conceded one goal.
Including a Canadian Championship match, their next three come at home.
"It's something we've spoken about," coach Carl Robinson told the club's official website. "We go on the road and we concede one goal in five games. The mentality of the group is fantastic, hard to beat, very focused. We come home and we want to play an exciting, attacking brand of football at home, but do we want to sacrifice conceding goals, giving points away and losing? No, no we won't. So I've got to find the balance."
Vancouver leaned heavily on forward Octavio Rivero early on with the rookie scoring five times in his first six MLS matches. He's gone without a goal in his last four, but that slump could end given Philadelphia's struggles.
The Union (1-6-3) are in danger of their longest skid since dropping four straight during their first two months of MLS play in 2010. They haven't notched a shutout since the opening match of the season while allowing their league-high 18 goals in the nine matches since.
Goalkeepers John McCarthy and Andre Blake will miss this game after suffering injuries in training, and the Union have added Brian Sylvestre on loan from NASL Carolina to make his MLS debut.
Sylvestre, starting over Rais Mbolhi, was part of the Whitecaps' system from 2010-12. He played against Philadelphia in last year's U.S Open Cup with the Harrisburg City Islanders, a Union affiliate.
"We took note," Union coach Jim Curtin told the club's official website. "Obviously he had a very good day. It's an affiliate, so you keep an eye on these guys. He had a great game."
Philadelphia is 0-3-2 on the road with 12 goals conceded and hasn't won in seven straight away matches. But Curtin sounds more concerned with cracking Vancouver's back line - the club has a league-high five shutouts - than handling its attack.
"Everybody talks about how they are a young, dynamic, attacking team," Curtin told the club's official website. "But if you look right now, their back line is playing as good as any right now. I think (Whitecaps midfielder) Matias 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."
The Union have been held scoreless in four of 10 matches after last Saturday's 1-0 home loss to Toronto.
Philadelphia holds a 2-1-2 lead in the all-time series.