The Vancouver Whitecaps (6W-2L-7D) finally return to Swangard Stadium to host AC St. Louis (2W-8L-2D) Thursday night, after completing a five-game, three-week, road swing.
Vancouver went the entire trip without a loss, battling out two wins and three draws to stay atop the NASL Conference. The blue and white will now try to extend their unbeaten strike on home turf.
"If you don't take points on the road, then you will never will the league," said head coach Teitur Thordarson in an interview with Whitecapsfc.com.
"I think we've been doing really well and the road trips are extremely tough. The travelling is one thing, the travelling into the heat is another thing and then you have the time differences. Adjusting to all this is extremely hard."
Despite the hardships of a long road trip, Thordarson is very happy with his team's results away from Swangard.
St. Louis has struggled in their inaugural season in the USSF D-2 League. The club sits at the bottom of both the NASL Conference and the overall league table.
The Whitecaps' defensive play has stunted opponents' offence all season long. Halfway through the schedule, the ‘Caps are the only club in the USSF D-2 League to give up fewer than 10 goals.
Only eight balls have beaten Vancouver's goalkeepers.
Jay Nolly can take most of the credit for his team's goalkeeping. He's the ‘Caps' number one man in net, and has not faltered under pressure yet this season.
"Defensively we've been strong so far," said midfielder Luca Bellisimo. "We just have to make sure we don't get complacent and work every game, every 90 minutes, to keep that going."
Meanwhile, St. Louis has struggled without midfielder Steve Ralston, who left the team to join the MLS outfit, the New England Revolution.
Thursday's matchup marks the third all-time meeting between St. Louis and Vancouver. The Whitecaps claimed victory on April 24, before playing to a 0-0 draw in Missouri on June 26.
Kick off is at 7:30 p.m. PST.
Notes: The Whitecaps are still without centre back Mouloud Akloul…Dever Orgill has been suspended indefinitely by the club following Tuesday's practice…Alex Elliot will miss the match as he is still waiting for his international transfer papers…Marlon James is day-to-day with a calf injury.
With files from Whitecapsfc.com.
