Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 27
BC Place — Vancouver
Sept. 1 — 10 pm ET
WATCH: TSN 1/4, ESPN+

After rallying to defeat the San Jose Earthquakes a week ago on the road, Vancouver Whitecaps FC return to BC Place looking to stretch an unbeaten streak to six games, while the Quakes are coming off their first home win since early March, beating West-leading FC Dallas in a barnburner Wednesday night.

This is the third meeting this season. The teams played to a 2-2 draw at BC Place on May 18 and last Saturday the Whitecaps erased a 2-0 halftime deficit to beat the Quakes, 3-2, at Avaya Stadium.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Vancouver (10-9-7) rallied from a 2-0 deficit at halftime and scored three unanswered goals in the second half to beat the Quakes a week ago.

Yordy Reyna opened the barrage in the 59th minute. Kei Kamara set up Cristian Techera two minutes later for the equalizer and scored the winning goal in the 68th minute.

“I made a few points to them, it obviously worked because they come out and they were outstanding in the second half. Credit to them,” Carl Robinson said. “They played on the front foot I think from the first 20 seconds of the second half. We were positive, we played forward. Yordy made a run, Kei got in the box and put a cross in and nearly scored. I think that set the tone.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: F - Yordy Reyna
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Jose Aja (left quad injury); QUESTIONABLE: D - Doneil Henry (right hand surgery); DOUBTFUL: M - Jordon Mutch (right foot injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-4-2, right to left)
GK: Stefan Marinovic — Jake Nerwinski, Kendall Waston, Aaron Maund, Marcel de Jong — Cristian Techera, Felipe, Russell Teibert, Alphonso Davies — Yordy Reyna, Kei Kamara

San Jose Earthquakes

If only San Jose (4-14-8) played FC Dallas every week.

Three and a half weeks removed from a stunning 3-1 win at Toyota Park, the Quakes followed up with a wild 4-3 victory at Avaya Stadium on Wednesday night for their first home win since a season-opening 3-2 win over Minnesota.

Once again, Vako was the FC Dallas bogeyman with another brace, while Chris Wondolowski scored the 62nd-minute winner — the 142nd of his career and 40th game-winner — eight minutes after Magnus Eriksson scored in a wild stretch that saw both teams combine for four goals in 11 minutes.

“It was great to get the goal,” Wondolowski said. “I am so proud to be the captain, to be with the guys out there fighting. It was a huge pleasure.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Kevin Partida (right ACL reconstruction surgery, partial meniscectomy); QUESTIONABLE: D - Harold Cummings (thigh injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-4-2, right to left)
GK: Andrew Tarbell — Nick Lima, Guram Kashia, Florian Jungwirth, Shea Salinas — Magnus Eriksson, Anibal Godoy, Luis Felipe Fernandes, Jahmir Hyka — Vako, Chris Wondolowski

All-Time Series

Overall: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 7 wins, 29 goals … San Jose Earthquakes 4 wins, 24 goals … 9 draws
At Vancouver: Whitecaps 6 wins, 19 goals … Earthquakes 1 win, 11 goals … 3 draws
Last meeting at Vancouver: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, San Jose Earthquakes 2 (May 16, 2018)