Vancouver Whitecaps cautious due to weak earthquakes in San Jose

The Vancouver Whitecaps are taking nothing for granted as they prepare for their next game.

Sure, the 'Caps (12-8-6) are undefeated in their last three games in all competitions (2-0-1). And yes, on Saturday they host the San Jose Earthquakes (5-20-2), a team lurking at the bottom of the Major League Soccer standings.

But Vancouver knows that being too overconfident could spell disaster.

“We have to approach it like any other game,” said Whitecaps captain Ryan Gauld. “They are at the bottom but still have a lot of good players who can hurt us if we are not at our best.”

For San Jose, everything is at stake ahead of this duel – a defeat would officially throw the club out of the race for the playoffs.

The Earthquakes also performed well in the Leagues Cup last month, opening the halftime break with a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake, third in the Western Conference, as Caps head coach Vanni Sartini noted.

“If you look at the table, you could say that (Saturday) is an easy game. But it is not an easy game,” he said. “We have to play a very good game.”

Vancouver played 0-0 against Dallas FC last week. Although the team did not take all three points, the Whitecaps played well, said midfielder Alessandro Schopf.

“The only thing I think we need to change is scoring goals. That's the only thing we didn't do well in the last game,” he said. “The rest was very good, I think.”

“Of course it won't be easy against San Jose. Everyone thinks it will be 3-0, 4-0. But it won't be like that. Every game in the MLS is tough, it's a close game. And hopefully we do as good a job as we did in the last game and take our chances. Then we will win the game.”

After missing more than half a dozen players last week, several regulars will now return to Vancouver's lineup.

Six players are back in town after playing for their national teams, including Canadian defender Sam Adekugbe and midfielder Ali Ahmed. Gauld is also back after playing for Scotland, while striker Fafa Picault (Haiti) and midfielders Andres Cubas (Paraguay) and Pedro Vite (Ecuador) are also back.

The team’s new addition could also play a bigger role on Saturday.

Midfielder Stuart Armstrong played six minutes against Dallas and has been training with his new teammates all week.

The 32-year-old Scot is still working on reaching full fitness but has already impressed Sartini with his performance on the field.

“The calmness with which he controls the ball under pressure – he can make the right decision and play the right pass,” said the coach. “So that's the first thing you really appreciate about his work.”

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (5/20/2) at VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (12/8/6) – Saturday, September 14 at BC Place.

OTHERS: Vancouver will be without American forward Brian White, who is undergoing concussion treatment. The club also listed Cubas (shoulder) and backup goalie Joe Benedik (lower back) as questionable for Saturday's game. San Jose defenseman Carlos Gruezo will be unavailable due to suspension.

HISTORY BOOKS: Saturday's clash could be a decider in MLS head-to-head between the two clubs, who both enter the match with an overall record of 11-11-12. The 'Caps won the last meeting, defeating the Earthquakes 2-0 in California on March 9.

STAY CLEAN: The Whitecaps have kept their opponents clean sheets in three consecutive games in all competitions and can head into Saturday with a 303-minute clean sheet streak.