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New York visits Vancouver without Henry, Marquez

May 27, 2011 - 6:49 PM Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - Vancouver Whitecaps FC will be returning to Major League Soccer action for the first time in two weeks when the club hosts Red Bull New York at Empire Field on Saturday.

Vancouver won its opening match of the season, but has since gone winless in its next 10 league games, with coach Teitur Thordarson needing more from his attack in particular.

The Whitecaps scored seven goals in their first three games of the season, but have found the net only five times in the next eight contests.

And the club will be without a trio of players who could help striker Eric Hassli share the scoring load as Atiba Harris (knee), Long Tan (foot) and John Thorrington (calf) are all out with injuries.

New York is winless in its last four games, having drawn three of those matches, with the latest coming on Wednesday in a 2-2 stalemate with the Colorado Rapids.

But the Red Bulls will have to overcome some significant absences as they try to put an end to their winless streak as striker Thierry Henry is out with swelling in his knee, while Rafael Marquez and Dane Richards are both away on international duty.

New York had the better of the play against Colorado on Wednesday for long stretches, but failed to come away with all three points. And midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy believes that with a little more patience, New York will start finding more consistent success.

"I think what's missing, to be honest, is movement off the ball," Ballouchy said. "If you watch Barcelona play, they touch, touch, touch. Even at the top of the box, they are patient. We need more patience."