San Jose Earthquakes vs. Vancouver Whitecaps | MLS Match Preview

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES vs VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
BUCK SHAW STADIUM, Santa Clara, Calif.
Oct. 18, 2014 (WEEK 32, MLS Game #311)
7:30 p.m. PT (CSN-CA; TSN)

A critical match in the Western Conference playoff chase is up on Saturday evening as the San Jose Earthquakes entertain Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Buck Shaw Stadium. The Earthquakes have been eliminated from playoff consideration, coming off a 2-0 loss at Real Salt Lake last weekend. Whitecaps FC have put together three consecutive wins to remain a point clear in fifth place in the West and holding onto the final playoff spot, coming off a 1-0 win at Seattle Sounders FC last Friday evening.

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REFEREE: Drew Fischer. AR1 (bench): Peter Balciunas; AR2 (opposite): Eduardo Mariscal; 4th: Allen Chapman
Fischer's MLS Career: 39 games; FC/gm: 26.7; Y/gm: 2.9; R: 3; pens: 12

SUSPENDED: VAN -- Kendall Waston (caution accumulation; through Oct. 19)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: SJ -- Victor Bernardez, Sam Cronin, Shaun Francis, Atiba Harris, Jason Hernandez, Jordan Stewart … VAN -- Jordan Harvey, Matias Laba, Pedro Morales, Russell Teibert
FINED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: SJ -- Shea Salinas, Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi … VAN -- Gershon Koffie, Andy O’Brien, Mauro Rosales, Steven Beitashour
DISABLED LIST: SJ -- Tommy Muller ... VAN -- Caleb Clarke (season-ending injury)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none

HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (10 meetings): Earthquakes 1 win, 11 goals … Whitecaps FC 5 wins, 16 goals … Ties 4
AT SAN JOSE (4 meetings): Earthquakes 1 win, 6 goals … Whitecaps FC 0 wins, 4 goals … Ties 3

2014 (MLS)
5/3: VAN 3, SJ 2 (Manneh 10; Morales 19, 20 – Wondolowski 45, 91+)
9/10: VAN 2, SJ 0 (Morales 39; Waston 56)

• The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Pedro Morales and Kendall Waston scored on either side of halftime to lead Whitecaps FC to a 2-0 win, Sept. 10 at BC Place. On May 3 in Vancouver, Morales scored twice as Whitecaps FC took an early 3-0 lead; Chris Wondolowski netted twice for the Quakes, but the ‘Caps still took the 3-2 victory.
• Whitecaps FC have never won at Buck Shaw Stadium. But in four meetings all-time in Santa Clara, the Quakes have won only once – a 3-1 win in 2012.
• The Earthquakes have never won in Vancouver, as Whitecaps FC have won their last five home meetings between the clubs.
• Coaches record: Mark Watson v VAN: P4 W0 L3 D1 … Carl Robinson vs. SJ: P2 W2 L0 D0

LAST MEETING

• Whitecaps FC finally found the back of the net after 7-1/2 hours to open the scoring. San Jose center back Victor Bernardez bundled over Vancouver's Kendall Waston in the box at a free kick in the 37th minute, and after referee Jose Carlos Rivero pointed to the spot, Pedro Morales stepped up to drill the penalty past Quakes 'keeper Jon Busch.
• Whitecaps FC then doubled their advantage in the 56th minute when Waston powered home a Morales corner with a sharp header from the heart of the area, through the legs of Cordell Cato on the goal line.
• VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC (4-3-1-2): David Ousted - Steven Beitashour, Andy O'Brien, Kendall Waston, Jordan Harvey - Mauro Rosales (Mehdi Ballouchy 62), Matias Laba, Russell Teibert - Pedro Morales (Nicolas Mezquida 86) - Sebastian Fernandez, Erik Hurtado (Darren Mattocks 90).
• SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (4-4-2): Jon Busch - Shaun Francis, Jason Hernandez, Victor Bernardez, Jordan Stewart - Cordell Cato, JJ Koval (Khari Stephenson 66), Sam Cronin, Shea Salinas (Atiba Harris 60) - Tommy Thompson (Mike Fucito 84) - Chris Wondolowski.

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
The San Jose Earthquakes had their winless streak stretched to 13 games, falling 2-0 to Real Salt Lake on Saturday evening at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Quakes are in ninth place in the Western Conference with 29 points from 32 games.

LAST MATCH

• Both of the game's goals came five minutes apart midway through in the first half. In the 24th minute, Tony Beltran put in a cross from the right that San Jose was unable to clear. The ball rolled out to Ned Grabavoy just outside the area, and he fired a low, swerving shot that made it through traffic into the right corner.
• Real doubled their lead in the 28th minute. From a corner kick, Luke Mulholland whipped the service to the far post and Sebastian Velasquez was there to knock home the final touch with his knee from close range for his first career league goal.
• Quakes head coach Mark Watson made three changes to the team that fell 3-0 to the Portland Timbers at Providence Park. Pablo Pintos and Jordan Stewart came into the back four and Khari Stephenson started in midfield, replacing Jason Hernandez, Shaun Francis and Sam Cronin.
• SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (4-4-1-1): Jon Busch - Pablo Pintos, JJ Koval, Ty Harden, Jordan Stewart - Tommy Thompson (Billy Schuler 77), Khari Stephenson, Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi, Shea Salinas - Yannick Djalo (Mike Fucito 80) - Adam Jahn.

TEAM NEWS

• The Earthquakes had their winless streak extended to 13 games – matching the club’s all-time record – with a third consecutive defeat in the loss at Real Salt Lake. The Quakes also went winless in 13 games in 2011.
• “I think everyone wants to win. It's been a long time. I think that would boost the spirits a little bit. I think there's a lot for the guys to play for,” coach Mark Watson said. “We have a proud bunch of guys and you always want to do well. You're playing for yourselves as well. You look at next season and there's obviously going to be changes and guys are playing for positions, every single one of them.”
• On Wednesday, the Quakes announced Dominic Kinnear – currently the head coach of the Houston Dynamo – will take over as head coach for the start of the 2015 season. Mark Watson was relieved of his duties; current assistant coach Ian Russell will coach the team on an interim basis for the final two matches.
• The Quakes were shut out for a second consecutive match, the second time this season they’ve been blanked in back-to-back matches (also: three straight, June 7-July 2). The Quakes have not scored a goal in their last 214 minutes of play.
• “Obviously it's hard when you do play so many games. We didn't have a full squad. We only had like 14 or 15 guys that could play with a few of the guys carrying knocks,” said Jordan Stewart. “Still, I think the goals we conceded we could have stopped. Obviously, they were going to have more of the possession.”
• Khari Stephenson made his first start in a league match since July 11, playing the full 90 minutes in a central midfield role. Stephenson had made seven substitute appearances in between.
• “The one thing I'll say about our guys is that I thought they fought right until the end,” said Watson. “There's tons of things that go against you and reasons you shouldn't win the game, but in the end we weren't good enough on the night. But our guys kept going to the end so I'm proud of them for that.”
• Said Stewart: “We’re at that point where there’s a lot of pressure on us to try to get a result and for the young lads, we need to be there to try to support them,” Stewart said. “I’ve been there myself. It’s kind of a learning curve to try to win games and be positive and keep the ball. Each year they play here, they’re going to learn that. Sooner than later, hopefully, we can have that.”
• On Tuesday, the Quakes defeated CSD Vida of Honduras 2-1 in a friendly at Buck Shaw Stadium. After conceding a first-half goal, the Quakes came back for the win on goals by Tommy Thompson and Khari Stephenson.
• Here’s the Quakes team: Bryan Meredith (Billy Knutsen 76), Pablo Pintos, Ty Harden, Shaun Francis, Tommy Thompson, Sam Cronin (Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi 31, Jason Hernandez 60), Khari Stephenson, Billy Schuler, Mike Fucito (Yannick Djalo 77), Adam Jahn.

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC claimed their third consecutive victory, defeating Seattle Sounders FC 1-0 on Friday evening at CenturyLink Field. Whitecaps FC sit in fifth place in the Western Conference with 46 points from 32 games.

LAST MATCH

• The game's lone goal came just before the halftime interval. Kekuta Manneh found himself all alone on the break off a pass from Pedro Morales, raced downfield into the Seattle penalty area then managed to slot his attempt underneath a lunging Stefan Frei in the Sounders FC goal.
• Whitecaps FC goalkeeper David Ousted was credited with two saves in keeping the clean sheet, securing the Cascadia Cup for his club for a second consecutive year.
• Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson made one change to the team that defeated FC Dallas 2-0 at BC Place. Kekuta Manneh came in for the suspended Sebastian Fernandez.
• VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC (4-2-3-1): David Ousted - Steven Beitashour, Andy O'Brien, Kendall Waston, Jordan Harvey - Matias Laba, Russell Teibert - Mauro Rosales (Mehdi Ballouchy 71), Pedro Morales (Nicolas Mezquida 81), Kekuta Manneh (Kianz Froese 46) - Erik Hurtado.

TEAM NEWS

• Whitecaps FC have won three consecutive games – matching the longest winning streak in the club’s MLS history – and won the Cascadia Cup for a second straight year following the victory in Seattle. The ‘Caps had won three games in a row previously in 2012.
• “To say I'm lost for words in an understatement,” said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. “I'm absolutely so proud of every single one of them today because not many people believed that we could win, but I did, 1,250 fans did and the group did, which is the most important thing. It's all down to the players today, and I give them all the credit.”
• Said center back Andy O'Brien: “Something's happened in the last three or four weeks. I don't know whether it's given the time of the season and how important it is, but the penny's dropped and it's important for the last two games of the season that we give a good account of ourselves. I must admit, when you talk about intensity I did feel a great sense of pressure building some weeks ago. And I was worried in case if we did get into the playoffs it was a big case of 'We've done that' when really it's got to be a steady progression. We're really tightening up but it feels relaxed and it doesn't feel as if the pressure is too big. If anything, we're anticipating and looking forward to the games.”
• Kekuta Manneh scored his first goal since May 3, his fourth of the season, while starting his first league match since Aug. 30. Manneh was forced off the field at the halftime break after suffering a knock just before scoring the goal.
• “The kid was excellent,” Robinson said. “Maybe he's got to play Seattle away every time. He was electric and he had numerous chances before he scored. I felt that it was an area, without DeAndre Yedlin, that we could get at them.”
• Said Manneh: “I definitely had a good feeling and it gave me a lot of confidence coming in to this game. Everybody was like, ‘You did it last year, why can you not do it again this year?’ Everybody believed in me in the locker room and I could see the support from the coaching staff and the senior players. It was really great for me, and it boosted my confidence a lot.”
• Homegrown Player Kianz Froese made his MLS debut in relief of Manneh, coming on for the final 45 minutes. Froese did start a Canadian Championship match in May vs. Toronto FC.
• “With all young players, they have no fear and they've got to learn. Sometimes it's best learning in the toughest environments and [Friday] was the toughest environment for him to learn,” Robinson said. “[Froese was] excellent. Hard work, determination, the kid can play. Let me tell you, the kid can play. He's got a great future.”
• Said Manneh: “He was exceptional when he came in. He did his job well and that's what we can hope for. He's a really good player and he just needs a little more minutes and you will see what he can do. He's a quality player.”
• Pedro Morales recorded his 11th assist of the season, setting up the lone goal. He has three goals and two assists over the last six matches; he’s been involved in seven of the Whitecaps’ last 10 goals dating back to July 27. “When playing with Pedro you have to expect he sees other people and I start running because I know his qualities and he plays the ball thought and it was a great pass,” said Manneh.
• Mauro Rosales started his eighth consecutive league match, playing 71 minutes before he had to come off with an injury.
• “He hurt his hamstring. I was going to wait until the 89th minute to give him the round of applause from all of the fans. You don't really see too many players getting cheered from both sets of supporters so when you do it's a special thing. I was going to do it but he obviously hurt his hamstring,” said Robinson.
• Kendall Waston started his eighth consecutive match, playing the full 90 minutes in each of those appearances. But he will miss the San Jose game through caution accumulation.
• “I brought him to the club to do a job. I think everyone has seen in a short amount of time how valuable he really is. He's an absolute monster,” said Robinson. “He's a bit like what Chad Marshall is to Seattle. He's been a fantastic player in the league and he's a massive part of Seattle's defense. We've got someone like that now. I'm really pleased for him.”