VANCOUVER, BC – A cursory glance at the Western Conference standings may give the misleading impression that the Vancouver Whitecaps shouldn't be too concerned with the San Jose Earthquakes in terms of the playoff race.
But with the teams set to meet at BC Place on Wednesday evening (10 pm ET; TSN in Canada, MLS Live), a win for San Jose would leave them just four points behind Vancouver with a game in hand.
It's a scenario Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson is keen to avoid. But he is fully aware of just how much in the playoff picture the Earthquakes still remain.
"They're definitely in the mix," Robinson told reporters at his team's training. "Anyone writing them off are pretty naive to be honest. They showed what they can do against Portland [on Sunday, a 3-3 draw]. There's a number of points to play for and they're a very good team.
"They're one of those teams who are able to grind out results, as shown [against Portland]. They're very much in the mix, so it's an important game for us because we need to score a goal first of all and then try and get a win."
Much has already been written about the Whitecaps' current 411-minute-long goal drought. It's a situation that is obviously playing on everyone's mind in Vancouver right now, but the 'Caps are taking inspiration for this game from the only other meeting between the two sides this season, back in May.
Vancouver ran out 3-2 winners in the end but the scoreline belies the dominant first-half display that the Whitecaps turned in, where they were three goals up inside the opening 20 minutes.
It's a game that's been fresh in the mind of the Whitecaps squad this week and striker Erik Hurtado feels that performance can be repeated to kickstart the 'Caps down the stretch.
"The last time we played them, we won and we scored three goals in the first half, so we're just looking to build off that," Hurtado told reporters. "We're confident off going out there and creating opportunities. I think once we start scoring goals and getting that momentum, then we're going to hit the roller coaster and keep going."
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The win over the Earthquakes in May was one of the Whitecaps' best attacking displays of the season and it's exactly that form that Hurtado and his fellow strikers badly need to find again.
Meanwhile, San Jose are starting to get into their own goalscoring groove. Vancouver's goalkeeper David Ousted has the task of keeping out Chris Wondolowski, who has four goals in his last four games, including a brace against Portland at the weekend. But it was what the Earthquakes did at the other end of the pitch that gives Ousted some confidence that the Whitecaps strikers can finally end their drought, and in some style.
"When you look at Wondolowski up front getting two goals, he's been consistently goalscoring in this league and is someone we've got to be tight on and not give the chances," Ousted said.
"I think they also showed us that we've got the chance of scoring goals. They let in three goals this weekend, and hopefully if we create the chances we'll get three goals as well."
