The Vancouver Whitecaps (6W-2L-8D) will look to defend their seven-game unbeaten streak against Miami FC (2W-5L-8D) in USSF D-2 League play Wednesday night.
The Whitecaps head into the match after playing to a 1-1 draw with the AC of St. Louis July 8.
The match was the first of a four-game home-stand for the blue and white who are hoping to collect some extra points at home and solidify their lead on the NASL Conference.
Vancouver has been focusing on their offensive attack at practice this week. Scoring has been troublesome this season. Head coach Teitur Thordarson wants his team to start putting the ball in the net and earning a full three points.
"We didn't attack them [St. Louis] enough, with enough aggression," said Thordarson to Whtiecapsfc.com.
"All these teams who come here like St. Louis, they come here, they defend well and they try to get away with something. And they almost took it all."
Thordarson said his team was lucky in the match against St. Louis. The ‘Caps lost their lead when the game was tied on a corner kick.
The Whitecaps coach wants Vancouver to play with more offensive pressure to win more games.
Vancouver and Miami lead the USSF D-2 League in ties with eight draws a piece. However, the ‘Caps will look to finish their scoring chances against their visitors from Florida come Wednesday night.
Whitecaps players Ansu Toure and Zarab Tsiskaridze will have a little extra fire in their boots against Miami. Both are former players of Miami before coming to Vancouver.
"The goal is always to try and win the home games," said Thordarson. "As it's turned out we almost have a bigger chance of winning the away games than the home games because when we play teams here in Vancouver they basically lay down the defense."
Miami will play a hard defensive game when they hit the pitch at Swangard Stadium. The club sits outside of the playoffs in USSF D-2 and need to salvage all the points they can if they hope to extend their season.
Miami has three losses and one draw in their last four league games. However, they have a potent offensive strike lead by Brazilian midfielder Paulo Araujo Jr. who sits third in league scoring with 14 points.
Argentinean Christian Gomez is also in the top ten scoring with 11 points.
"They [Miami] have a lot of individual quality on the team," said Thordarson. "We have to be very focused against them because it might hurt us if we are not aware of things and then quickly they can hurt us."
Wednesday's match is the 14th all-time meeting between Vancouver and Miami and the last regular season meeting this year.
Since 2006, Vancouver has eight wins, two losses, and three draws against Miami.
Kick-off is at 7:30 p.m. PST.
Notes: Mouloud Akloul remains sidelined from an ankle fracture he sustained in April.
