Whitecaps looking to answer questions in road game against San Jose
VANCOUVER — After wanting like that they had run out of solutions, the Vancouver Whitecaps now face some massive questions.
The Whitecaps hopes of constructing the Main League Soccer playoffs took a blow with an embarrassing 3-0 loss at residence to Nashville SC final week. Now, with simply six common season video games remaining, the Whitecaps should reply questions on their satisfaction and perception in themselves as they put together to play the San Jose Earthquakes on the highway Sunday.
“As a substitute of wanting on the staff we’re enjoying towards I feel we’ve got to look inside ourselves,” stated veteran midfielder Russell Teibert. “The satisfaction inside ourselves. Now we have to play with our coronary heart, our ardour and play as a staff.
“We must be higher throughout. We must be higher for our jersey, we must be higher for our followers, we must be higher for ourselves. Down the stretch we’ve got our satisfaction on the road.”
Head coach Vanni Sartini was harsh in his criticism of his staff after the Nashville sport. He referred to as the loss unacceptable, stated the Whitecaps owed their followers an apology and even accused his gamers of giving up.
Given just a few days to mirror, Sartini stated the staff must rethink its focus for the ultimate video games.
“We principally shot ourselves within the foot,” Sartini stated after a coaching session this week. “Nashville didn’t do something to win the sport however we did all the pieces to lose the sport.
“Now we have to show that we’re a staff that desires to win massive and desires to make the final sport significant. The one technique to make the final sport significant is to win the subsequent couple of video games. I feel we’ve got this fireplace in us.”
Sartini stated the teaching employees shares the blame. For the previous couple of weeks the emphasis has been on what number of factors the Whitecaps would possibly must make the playoffs. Now the staff will focus on gaining factors from every sport they play.
“Overlook in regards to the playoffs,” Sartini stated. “The one sport that issues is win towards San Jose. Win towards San Jose then let’s try to win (the subsequent sport) towards Colorado.
“It’s the one technique to be again within the battle once more.”
The Whitecaps will face the Earthquakes with out striker Lucas Cavallini, who leads the staff with eight objectives. Cavallini will miss the sport after taking a crimson card for stepping on Nashville’s Alex Muyl in Saturday’s loss.
“I remorse all the pieces I did,” stated Cavallini. “I hate to do issues like this and let the feelings get the worst out of me.”
Heading into the weekend Vancouver (9-12-7) sits ninth within the Western Convention with 34 factors, 5 lower than Portland which holds the seventh and ultimate playoff spot. San Jose (6-12-9) are final within the West with 27 factors.
The LA Galaxy are eighth with 38 factors whereas Seattle (33) and Colorado (32) are nipping on the Whitecaps’ heels.
The Whitecaps acquired just a little assist Wednesday night time when the Galaxy tied Toronto FC 2-2 whereas Seattle misplaced 3-2 to Orlando and Nashville beat Colorado 4-1.
San Jose has 5 losses in its final eight video games (1-5-2) however Sartini stated the Whitecaps have to concentrate to a staff that has scored 42 objectives this season, 10 greater than Vancouver.
“We must be extra compact, we must be extra utilized,” he stated.
“They’re a really offensive staff and so they throw a number of numbers at you.”
The Earthquakes and Whitecaps settled for a 3-3 draw the final time they met. Vancouver is undefeated in its final 5 sport towards San Jose (2-0-3).
Teibert stated the Whitecaps want to consider the now, not what occurred up to now.
“We will’t preserve wanting within the rearview mirror,’ he stated. “Now we have to look ahead and proper in entrance of us is a tricky opponent. Now we have to take a look at selecting up a win on the highway.
“I don’t assume you may method a staff primarily based on the previous. Now we have to maintain wanting ahead.”
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (9-12-7) at SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (6-12-9)
PayPal Park, Sunday 9:30 ET
INJURY REPORT: Ahead Deiber Caicedo (out for the season following meniscus surgical procedure on proper knee).
ROAD WARRIORS: The Whitecaps opened the season shedding their first 5 matches on the highway however because the finish of Could have earned factors in six of their eight away matches (2-2-4).
TEAM EFFORT: This yr 19 Whitecaps have both scored a aim or collected an help in MLS video games. Midfielder Ryan Gauld leads the staff with a mixed six objectives and 7 assists.
HEAD ACHES: Two of the three objectives Vancouver allowed within the loss to Nashville have been headers. It was the primary time since June 2021 towards Actual Salt Lake that the Whitecaps allowed a number of headed objectives. Vancouver had allowed simply two headers of their earlier 15 matches
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Sept. 2, 2022
Jim Morris, The Canadian Press
