VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps are halfway through their Canadian club championship semifinal tie with FC Edmonton, but it’s difficult to know what to expect in terms of lineup or performance this coming Wednesday in the return leg at BC Place.
Wednesday programming alert: Watch Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC (live on Sportsnet ONE at 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PT) and Vancouver Whitecaps vs. FC Edmonton (live on Sportsnet ONE at 10:00pm ET/7:00pm PT) in the second leg of the Canadian club championship semifinals.
Yes, the Whitecaps lead the series following a 3-2 win in the first leg in Edmonton, but the nature of their victory was hardly convincing. Had Daryl Fordyce scored an excellent opportunity with Edmonton leading 2-1, or had referee Silviu Petrescu not granted a soft penalty on Camilo, which the Brazilian converted, perhaps the storyline going into Wednesday would be much different.
For Edmonton, some will feel their chance at an upset has past.
In order for the Alberta-based club to advance, they now likely have to win by more than one goal as the Whitecaps scored two away goals last week.
Beating the Whitecaps is a tough enough ask given the gulf in resources between Major League Soccer teams and NASL sides such as Edmonton, but doing so by two goals away from home borders on the impossible.
Still, there are reasons for Edmonton to take hope that there is an opportunity at an upset. First, there is the team’s excellent first-half performance last week. They took the game to the Whitecaps for large stretches, and the towering Michael Cox had his way with Vancouver’s backline, which didn’t seem to know how to contain the forward.
Additionally, the delivery of Lance Laing was exceptional throughout – for a Whitecaps backline that seems to struggle with aerial bombardment, his service could very well set up a goal or at the very least cause havoc as it did for spells last week.
From a Whitecaps perspective, however, playing at home against weaker opposition could be just the antidote to get them out of their MLS rut, in which the team is now winless in six matches.
Darren Mattocks still just sits on one goal, and this game could provide a chance to get the weight off his shoulders with a goal or two.
Starting Kekuta Manneh seems like it could be the correct option. The rookie was electric against FC Dallas this weekend, coming off the bench in the 54th minute with his side two goals down to score and then set up the equalizer in a 2-2 draw.
Rewarding Manneh with further minutes could provide the player with a bit more confidence – and, on a more practical level, if this weekend’s showing was reflective of his capabilities, he could simply be the most dangerous option right now to pick from on the left side of the attack.
This game, if it goes to plan, could see a player or two earn MLS spots. Joe Cannon looked like a bit of an adventure last weekend, as his lingering on the ball contributed to the causing the corner that led to Dallas’ opener.
There were several other moments in the game where the 36-year-old’s distribution was typically frustrating.
On a team in top form, a goalkeeper with poor distribution skills is often overlooked – certainly if he’s a good shot stopper. But when a team is struggling – as the Whitecaps are in MLS– a ‘keeper who gives away possession, or worse, puts teams under pressure, with poor distribution becomes a focal point for critics.
Is Cannon the reason this team is struggling? Of course not. Their main issues are in the offensive third, as indicated by the paltry nine goals scored in eight games.
But when things aren’t going your way as a team, a goalkeeper who demonstrates poor judgement or simply struggles with kicking becomes an easy scapegoat.
Even coach Martin Rennie lost his cool after Cannon’s misplay this weekend, kicking the plexiglass down by the bench in anger.
If backup Brad Knighton shows well on Wednesday, don’t be surprised to see him back as No. 1 come next weekend and given a bit of a run in league play.
