The Vancouver Whitecaps know they will have to work to successfully defend home turf when a revenge-minded San Jose Earthquakes club visits B.C. this weekend.
The Whitecaps (10-9-7) snatched a 3-2 victory from the Earthquakes (4-14-8) last Saturday in California despite San Jose scoring twice in the first 20 minutes.
B次元官网网址淭he first 25 minutes of that game were awful. But we went from awful to awesome pretty quick,B次元官网网址� midfielder Russell Teibert said after training this week.
A frank talking-to at the half and a pair of subs changed the WhitecapsB次元官网网址� fortunes. They scored three second-half goals in nine minutes for the comeback.
It was an exciting win, but Teibert said the team needs to figure out how to get motivated before theyB次元官网网址檙e down on the scoreboard.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 understand why it takes two goals for us to wake up. Again, thatB次元官网网址檚 something thatB次元官网网址檚 unacceptable,B次元官网网址� he said.
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On Saturday, Vancouver will host San Jose for a rematch. It will be the QuakesB次元官网网址� third game in seven days after the team beat Dallas FC B次元官网网址擭o. 1 in the Western Conference B次元官网网址� 4-3 on Wednesday.
San Jose will be ready for a fight, said Whitecaps striker Kei Kamara.
B次元官网网址淲hat we did in their place, IB次元官网网址檓 sure theyB次元官网网址檙e going to come over here and want to replicate that against us,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址漈heyB次元官网网址檙e not in a good place in the (standings), but theyB次元官网网址檙e in the position to spoil parties and we really have to be ready for them.B次元官网网址�
The B次元官网网址楥aps are riding a five-game unbeaten streak and sit in eighth place in the MLS Western Conference, where the race for the post season is tight. The Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, LA Galaxy and Whitecaps are all currently within three points of each other.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really close with the rest of the teams. And we know for sure we can put ourselves in the playoffs at the end of it,B次元官网网址� Kamara said.
With just eight regular-season games left, SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 match with be B次元官网网址渉ugeB次元官网网址� for the playoff push, he added.
The Whitecaps play their next three matches at home, and strong defence will be key to making the most of the games, Teibert said.
The B次元官网网址楥aps have conceded 51 goals this season B次元官网网址� an average of nearly two a game.
B次元官网网址淲e need to make B.C. Place a fortress. Teams need to know that when they come to B.C. Place, theyB次元官网网址檙e not going to score goals,B次元官网网址� Teibert said.
Head coach Carl Robinson wants his team to be better defensively and cut down on individual errors going into SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 game.
B次元官网网址淲e have to make sure we tidy up defensively and when we make mistakes, it doesnB次元官网网址檛 cost us goals, which it has done too many times this season,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ecause when it comes to crunch time, weB次元官网网址檙e probably not going to be able to get out of jail like we did this weekend.B次元官网网址�
Still, there are a number of things the B次元官网网址楥aps are doing right, the coach said, including rallying in the face of adversity.
B次元官网网址淲hatB次元官网网址檚 important in sports, when you have a disappointment, you collectively get together and get your mind right and you donB次元官网网址檛 go under,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淲hat weB次元官网网址檝e done really well is be able to regroup when we werenB次元官网网址檛 playing well in the first half and settle the game down and get into halftime where we can make some adjustments.B次元官网网址�
Those adjustments pushed the B次元官网网址楥aps to a come-from-behind win last weekend. And defender Aaron Maund said the energy from that win will help push the team going forward.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e a team that believes. I think that goes a long way,B次元官网网址� Maund said.
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SAN JOSE (4-14-8) AT VANCOUVER (10-9-7)
Saturday, B.C. Place
BIRTHDAY GOAL?: If VancouverB次元官网网址檚 Kei Kamara finds the back of the net on Saturday, the goal would be a birthday gift to himself. The striker B次元官网网址� who turns 34 on Sept. 1 B次元官网网址� has 11 goals this season, tied for seventh place on the leagueB次元官网网址檚 leading scorers list.
LUCKY STADIUM: San Jose has earned points the last three times they visited B.C. Place during the regular season. Their last visit on May 16 resulted in a 2-2 draw.
B次元官网网址楥APS CALLED UP: Four Vancouver Whitecaps have been tapped to play for CanadaB次元官网网址檚 menB次元官网网址檚 team next month. Midfielders Alphonso Davies and Russell Teibert, and defenders Doneil Henry and Marcel de Jong are all on the roster for the Sept. 9 match against the U.S. Virgin Islands, the first of four CONCACAF Nations qualifying games.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
