The Vancouver Whitecaps finally have a win in the books but there was little time for celebration this week.
Less than 24 hours after posting a 1-0 victory over Los Angeles FC on Wednesday, the team assembled at VancouverB次元官网网址檚 airport, ready to travel across the continent to face Orlando City SC on Saturday.
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The contest will mark the B次元官网网址楥aps (1-4-2) third game in nine days, including a pair of road matches.
Gruelling schedules are simply part of life in Major League Soccer, goalie Maxime Crepeau said at the airport before the Whitecaps left for Florida.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the reality of the game,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no excuse. WeB次元官网网址檙e prepared for it. WeB次元官网网址檙e professionals. We recover well and weB次元官网网址檙e ready to go after that.B次元官网网址�
Despite the busy stretch, the Whitecaps have taken four points from their last two games, including their first win of the season on Wednesday.
The team will be looking to build off those results on the road trip, said Russell Teibert.
B次元官网网址�(WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 win) was a big relief for everyone, getting the monkey off our back, getting the first three points,B次元官网网址� said the midfielder. B次元官网网址淥bviously we need to carry that momentum into this game in Orlando.B次元官网网址�
But the intense schedule will have an impact on how the squad prepares to face Orlando City (2-3-2), said coach Marc Dos Santos.
Flying from B.C. to Florida limits the teamB次元官网网址檚 ability to get on the field for tactical training, so theyB次元官网网址檒l need to rely more on preparing via video, he explained.
Before staff can look at potential lineups, however, theyB次元官网网址檒l need to assess how players have recovered from Wednesday nightB次元官网网址檚 physical win and a full travel day.
B次元官网网址淲e need to try to put the best set up on the field to have as fresh of a team as we can,B次元官网网址� Dos Santos said. B次元官网网址滲ecause itB次元官网网址檚 important against Orlando to hold players like Dom Dwyer and (Luis B次元官网网址橬aniB次元官网网址� Almeida). They have an experienced team.B次元官网网址�
Dwyer and Almeida each have three goals for Orlando this season, and shutting the pair down will be key in VancouverB次元官网网址檚 quest for road points.
Scott Sutter didnB次元官网网址檛 play with Almeida, but he knows Dwyer better than most of his Whitecaps teammates after spending two seasons with the English striker in Orlando.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 one of these guys that you love having on your team and you hate having against you. So itB次元官网网址檒l definitely be a fun one,B次元官网网址� Sutter said.
Teibert notes that the Whitecaps have already been successful in smothering a pair of offensive juggernauts this week. The team kept LAFCB次元官网网址檚 Carlos Vela and Diego Rossi from registering a single point on Wednesday.
B次元官网网址�(SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 game is) almost similar to this midweek game in that we played the best team in the league with possibly the best player in the league,B次元官网网址� Teibert said. B次元官网网址滲ut you canB次元官网网址檛 tailor the game plan around one individual player. Things change, the dynamic of the game changes. But if you stick to your plan, good things will happen.B次元官网网址�
Orlando has a dynamic forward group and a stable back end, said Sutter, who spent 2017 and 2018 playing in Florida.
B次元官网网址淏ut you know, they have their issues as well and hopefully we can exploit those,B次元官网网址� said the veteran right-back.
Sutter said heB次元官网网址檚 long been looking forward to facing off against his former club.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檒l definitely be an emotional one,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址滻 spent a couple of good years there. The club was good to me, the people were good to me, the fans were great to me. So itB次元官网网址檒l be nice to go there and obviously hopefully get a win.B次元官网网址�
Vancouver Whitecaps (1-4-2) vs. Orlando City SC (2-3-2)
Orlando City Stadium, Saturday
PERFECT RECORD: The Whitecaps are undefeated against Orlando City SC, holding a 3-0-1 all-time record and having won both of their previous away games against the Lions.
HELLO AGAIN: Sutter wonB次元官网网址檛 be the only player lining up against former teammates. Whitecaps winger Victor B次元官网网址楶.C.B次元官网网址� Giro also played 2017 and 2018 with Orlando and the Lions starting B次元官网网址檏eeper Brian Rowe played 10 games for Vancouver last season.
OFFENSIVE OUTPUT: The B次元官网网址楥aps remain near the bottom of the MLS standings when it comes to goals for. TheyB次元官网网址檝e scored just six this season, tied with the San Jose Earthquakes and Portland Timbers for the worst offensive output so far in the Western Conference. OrlandoB次元官网网址檚 11 goals place them third in the East behind Toronto FC and D.C. United.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
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