Whitecaps Attackers Must Prove Themselves in Chicago

The biggest question ahead of this season was whether or not Vancouver could score more goals. After a loss to TFC in their season opener, the question remains unanswered.

The Caps were exposed as a potentially one-dimensional counter attacking team. Although they looked potent in the first half, scoring once on a long through ball delivered to Octavio Rivero, Toronto were able to contain Vancouver speed down the flanks after a half-time adjustment. Carl Robinson's side were forced to play a possession game, keeping the passes short and trying to methodically break down the Red's back line.

The results were not good. They seemed to lack creativity with the ball, passing only to keep possession until they were ultimately closed down. No threatening balls into the box, no playing their forwards through on goal. TFC, in no danger of conceding a goal, just waited for their turn with the ball and attacked with the intent that the Whitecaps were lacking.

Is this a correctable problem? Can Robinson fiddle with his tactics and unearth a more balanced offensive scheme? Or was the frustration of last Saturday's match an ominous sign of things to come? This weeks trip to Chicago will likely give us an inkling either way.

Let's face it, the Chicago Fire are a team Vancouver should score goals against. The Fire conceded 51 times last year, tied for the 6th worst record in the league, on their way to finishing second last in the weak Eastern Conference.

And while there was plenty of turnover in their roster leading up to this season, Chicago looks less like a club whose offseason moves have poised them for success, and more like one who is struggling to find its identity. It their opening fixture in Los Angeles, they were outmatched by the Galaxy on paper and eventually on the pitch.

It was a 2-0 loss for Chicago during which LA attempted to shoot an astonishing eight times within the 18-yard box. By comparison, the Seattle Sounders only took five shots inside the box in their dominant 3-0 victory against the lowly Revolution.

This is all basically to say that Chicago does not defend very well. The Whitecaps need to show they can take advantage, especially on the road. They scored 15 times in 17 road matches, and that rate will need to improve dramatically if they want to make the playoffs comfortably this time around.

That improvement must begin tonight, because if they cannot score against the weaker teams on the road, they do not stand a chance against the West's better sides.