Two Western Conference teams heading in opposite directions
Vancouver head to Kansas City in the early hours of Sunday morning with the best record in the Western Conference. On the other side? Bottom of the pile. The gap between the two clubs says plenty about where each project stands right now.
The Whitecaps have 40 points (12-4-4) and boast the best goal difference in MLS at plus 27. No other side comes close this season. August has treated them well, too, with a 2-1-1 record and a brutal 5-0 home win over Dallas last week.
“I hope we can keep that level,” said coach Jesper Sorensen.
Sporting Kansas City come in winless in five (0-4-1) and sit on 15 points from 21 matches, with a 4-14-3 record.
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Joveljic exit leaves Kansas City short up front
The club shipped Dejan Joveljic to Seattle Sounders this week. The striker had scored eight times this season, more than twice as many as anyone else in the roster. He leaves at a time when the team can least afford to lose a finisher.
Stephen Afrifa now carries the main attacking threat. He has eight goals in 62 career appearances. That comparison alone shows the size of the hole left behind.
Kansas City have moved to bring in Owen Wolff, who arrived from Austin FC. The midfielder has 10 goals and 23 assists in 147 matches, and was named the club’s attacking player of the year last season. His arrival carries extra weight here: he is the son of Josh Wolff, a former Sporting favourite. He is listed as out with a knee issue for the visit of Vancouver.
“I expect to have him with the group,” explained Raphael Wicky. “It’s mainly about giving him time and some training with his teammates.”
The Swiss head coach wants the same patience across the board. “We need to give them time. We have to let these players settle in. We’re building a culture together.”
Vancouver move on without much clue about the opposition
The first meeting of the season was over almost before it began. On 17 April, the Whitecaps won 3-0 thanks to Emmanuel Sabbi, Bruno Caicedo and Thomas Muller.
Since then, the other side has changed shape, which makes preparation far trickier.
“I don’t know whether some of the players they have brought in will play or not,” Sorensen admitted. “We have to play our football and hope that is enough to get a good result.”
For the Canadians, Brian White, bothered by a thigh problem, and Jeevan Badwal, absent for personal reasons, missed part of training this week. Both are expected to be available. “We don’t want to force anything,” Sorensen said of White. On Badwal: “He’s ready. He will be ready for the match.”
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