Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - Wednesday's match at BC Place should go a
long way toward helping shape the Western Conference playoff landscape as
Vancouver Whitecaps FC hosts FC Dallas in match that is arguably more
important for the Frisco club.
Dallas sits sixth in the West on 26 points, 10 points shy of the Los Angeles
Galaxy, who occupy the final conference playoff berth. With the Galaxy also in
action Wednesday, Dallas could find itself 13 points off the pace by the end
of the night.
With a record of 3-2-1 over its last six games, Dallas has turned its season
around after a lengthy winless run. On the back of a 3-2 defeat of the
Colorado Rapids last time out, the club is looking to make a march up the
table in a bid for a postseason appearance.
That playoff push could hinge on the performance of Fabian Castillo, who was
instrumental in Saturday's win over Colorado.
"He's maturing into the player we all hoped he would be," Dallas head coach
Schellas Hyndman said of Castillo. "He's got tremendous speed, quickness and
he's creating some really, really dangerous situations."
Dallas has welcomed back playmaker David Ferreira to the fold. The creative
midfielder scored the game-winner against the Rapids, his first goal of the
season, off an assist from Castillo.
"I'm very happy to be the one to supply the pass for David to score his goal
and it's the same thing that happened last season, too," Castillo said.
"Usually it's David setting us up to score, so it's great to set him up for
one."
Vancouver has plenty to play for on Wednesday as well. The 'Caps can move into
sole possession of third place in the West with a positive result.
Flourishing in recent weeks for the Canadian club has been Camilo Sanvezzo.
The Brazilian was just one of the club's options in a deep stable of attacking
players, but following the departures of Davide Chiumiento, Sebastien Le Toux
and Eric Hassli, Camilo has picked up the slack.
"Davide was playing well, but I think Camilo has more of a goal threat,"
Whitecaps head coach Martin Rennie told the club's official website. "We just
felt that he has to be on the field in order to score goals. But, at the same
time, you have to perform well and have confidence. I feel like he's had a
lift and grown in confidence because he's known he's more likely to be out
there [since Chiumiento's departure]."
Camilo scored one and added an assist in Vancouver's last outing, a 2-1 defeat
of Real Salt Lake.
The Sports Network