Every week we’re going to bring you our look at the upcoming games that weekend and what we hope to see from those to benefit the Caps to the max, along with what impact the different results from the Whitecaps own match has to our playoff hopes.
For some background to our feature, see <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?3099-Schedule-Dynamics-Adding-Interest-To-MLS-Season" target="_blank">HERE</a>.
<center>********************</center>
Last weekend's games produced a below par <i>BCS</i> success rate of 41.66%.
The Caps’ last minute goal they conceded to Seattle, saw them waste a huge opportunity to close the gap on the Sounders and at the top.
A good midweek saw Seattle, Dallas and Los Angeles all lose, with Chivas drawing and San Jose grabbing a last gasp win in LA to go back to the top of the Western Conference, where they now lead Vancouver by nine points.
With the Caps in Cascadia Cup action down in Portland, what are the <i>”Best Case Scenarios”</i> we’re hoping to see in the rest of the week 12 games this weekend?
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
Nine games are being played over Saturday and Sunday, with three all-Western Conference clashes, three inter-conference match ups and three all-Eastern ties. So six matches to keep a really close eye on, including our own.
<b><u>Portland Timbers v Vancouver Whitecaps</u></b>
Current Whitecaps Points: 18 (4th in West)
If Whitecaps Win: 21 points (Best Case Scenario = 4th in West, six points behind leaders / Worst Case Scenario = 4th, nine points behind leaders)
If Whitecaps Draw: 19 points (BCS = 4th / WCS = 5th)
If Whitecaps Lose: 18 points (BCS = 4th / WCS = 5th)
Maximum Points Total Possible: 87
Projected Points Total On Current Results: 55
Playoff Likelihood: 66 - 76% (huge spread on the various sites)
<b><u>Houston Dynamo v Los Angeles Galaxy</u> - Houston win</b>
So just how low can LA go? Well not much lower than bottom of the West. We keep saying that at some point soon they’re going to find their form and start rising up the table. There’s going to come a time though when we will perhaps just have to realise that this isn’t the case. If Adam Moffat and his Houston chums can help keep at least a seven, and possibly a ten, point gap between the Caps and the Galaxy then that will do very nicely.
<b><u>Toronto v Philadelphia Union</u> - No impact on Caps</b>
"The Toilet Bowl". This all-eastern basement battle could at least give Caps fans some cheer this week if TFC can remain pointless. Let’s hope our feeder team can give us a good chuckle.
<b><u>Columbus Crew v Chicago Fire</u> - No impact on Caps</b>
Another all-eastern clash with frankly no interest whatsoever to us.
<b><u>DC United v New England Revolution</u> - No impact on Caps</b>
And another. Same again.
<b><u>Real Salt Lake v Dallas</u> - Draw</b>
The first all-western match up of the weekend. We’re going to root for the draw, so that neither side really benefits. High flying Real just need not to win to help us close the gap at the top a little. We could close to within five of them, but being eleven points behind them, even this early in the season, would be a very tough ask to claw back. A Dallas win wouldn’t be the end of the world and would still keep them behind us no matter what.
<b><u>Colorado Rapids v Montreal Impact</u> - Montreal win</b>
The Rapids are breathing down the necks of the Whitecaps. Two points behind at the moment, if things go badly this weekend we could fall to fifth, so let’s hope our fellow Canadians can do us a big favour. They owe us several.
<b><u>Chivas USA v Seattle Sounders</u> - Draw</b>
After the win over LA, I think the time for saying that Chivas wins won’t matter too much to us needs to go on hold. Could they be the west’s playoff wildcards? Seattle are winless in three. If they can make that four then the Caps could close to within two or three points of our hated Cascadian rivals.
<b><u>Sporting Kansas City v San Jose Earthquakes</u> - KC win</b>
What has happened to KC? They started the season on fire but are now winless in four. What better time to find that winning habit again than against the Western Conference leaders. We really need this to happen. Shake the Quakes.
<center>**********</center>
So that’s what we’re going to be cheering for this weekend. A derby win, and some results going our way, will at least ease the pain of the Voyageurs Cup loss a little and send us into our short break on the up and still having strong self belief.
<p>