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DCU, 'Caps set for interconference battle

Sep 5, 2014 - 7:16 PM Vancouver, BC (SportsNetwork.com) - Vancouver Whitecaps FC will be aiming for a rebound performance on Saturday in a rare late-season interconference clash as the club welcomes D.C. United to BC Place.

Last time out, Vancouver was pummeled, 3-0, by Cascadia rivals the Portland Timbers on home soil thanks to three second-half goals from Alvas Powell, Max Urruti and Rodney Wallace.

Playmaker Diego Valeri set up the first goal as he found space on the wing to drive a cross into the penalty area that was turned home at the near post by the head of Powell.

Nine minutes later, Portland doubled its lead when Michael Harrington did some good work to create space and pull the ball back for Urruti, who was left open to slot the ball high into the net.

Darlington Nagbe set up the third goal for Wallace four minutes later and there was no way back for Vancouver.

"I think we were just done in today," Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson said. "We just weren't on top form today, and it's a shame because we had an outstanding opportunity at home."

United, meanwhile, has been rolling along for most of the season and find themselves firmly atop the Eastern Conference with 46 points and coming off a 2-0 shutout over Atlantic Cup rivals Red Bull New York last time out.

United opened the scoring in the 57th minute when Luis Silva ran on to a flicked header from Fabian Espindola and beat New York goalkeeper Luis Robles to the ball, touching it past the netminder and rolling a shot into the empty net.

With New York pushing men forward in the closing minutes United took advantage with a nice chipped ball from Perry Kitchen that released Johnson in behind the defense, where he flicked a ball over the head of Robles and into the net to cap the victory.

"I am very pleased with the result. It was always going to be a gutsy day," said DC head coach Ben Olsen. "I think we started off pretty bright, and then they turned it on us in the later portions of the second half and we were lucky not to give one up. But, I think overall in the second half the way we defended the box was better. Our timing was better and just the way we went about the game in the second half was much smarter.

"We are going to have times where we are going to be a team that can out- possess a team and unbalance teams in that way. But we also have the ability to transform into a little bit more of a direct team"

Saturday's match will be the only meeting of the season between the sides. Vancouver claimed a 1-0 result over United last season at RFK Stadium on June 29.