Match Preview - Caps vs Quakes

(3) Vancouver Whitecaps vs (6) San Jose Earthquakes
Western Conference Knockout Round
BC Place Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30pm
TV: TSN 1/3/4/5, Unimas (via SAP) and NBCS California
Radio: TSN

Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero
Assistant Referees: Adam Wienckowski, CJ Morgante
Fourth Official: Baldomero Toledo
VAR: Dave Gantar

Well, for the 2nd time in 10 days the Caps and ‘Quakes collide at BC Place. This time, a spot in the Western Conference Semi-Final Round is up for grabs.

How they got here:
Vancouver (15-12-7), 3rd in the West. It was not a good closing stretch for the Caps, finishing 1-3-1, only picking up maximum points against Sporting Kansas City in that stretch and falling out of first place thanks to a loss vs Portland and Seattle’s destruction of Colorado.

San Jose (13-14-7), 6th in the West. San Jose enters the playoffs on a relative high, winning 2 of their last 3, sneaking into the playoff thanks to a Marco Urena stoppage time strike mere moments after entering the match.

What to watch for:
Caps:
How will they respond?
The big guns need to be exactly that

San Jose:
Vako Qazaishvili
Marco Urena

What’s on the line:
For the Caps, a date with Cascadian foe Seattle.
For the Quakes, a date with the Portland Timbers.