What to watch for: Rowdies at Vancouver

Posted Jun 6, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jun 6, 2010 at 08:36 AM

What to watch for when the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies travel to face the Vancouver Whitecaps at 7 p.m. this evening at Swangard Stadium.

1. BIG MATCH-UP: On the evidence of the season so far, two of the best players in the USSF Division II could match-up a lot on Sunday night as Rowdies forward Aaron Wheeler goes up against Whitecaps center back Nelson Akwari.

Wheeler has been on an excellent run with four goals in the last five games. That’s as many as the Whitecaps have conceded all season, though, and Akwari has been at the center of it. Wheeler should have a height advantage, Akwari is 6-feet tall as opposed to Wheeler who is 6-4, but the experienced 28-year-old will be a tough opponent for Wheeler as he looks to continue his hot streak.

2. CUT THE SUPPLY: The Phoenix Suns have Steve Nash to do their distribution. The Whitecaps have his younger brother Martin, who leads the league with four assists in six games this season. That’s going to make the role of whoever is charged with keeping the Whitecaps’ dynamic midfielder in check an important one.

One of the ways the side can do that is by establishing its passing rhythm sooner in the game. Especially against Puerto Rico it appeared to take the Rowdies some time to get into the game. Find the ball and find a teammate’s feet early and often and the Rowdies could put Nash and the rest of the Whitecaps midfield on the back foot and chasing the game instead of dictating it.

The other thing the Rowdies have to accomplish is reduce the number of free kicks and corners it concedes. The bulk of the 10 goals conceded this season have come from set pieces. It’s one thing to want to play a physical game, but the Rowdies defenders have to be smarter when it comes to conceding free kicks the Whitecaps will be able to exploit from 30 yards and in.

3. SPREAD BUT CONNECTED: After playing the last two games on the compact Steinbrenner Field pitch, the Rowdies will have far more space to work with against the Whitecaps at Swangard Stadium.

What will be crucial, though, is that the players in the attacking quartet retain the connection they’ve had with each other in the three straight victories the team has put together. The understanding between Long Tan, Pascal Millien and Kwame Adjeman-Pamboe was excellent in the two home victories against Minnesota and Puerto Rico. If the Rowdies are to be the first team to score at the Whitecaps’ home fortress in the league this season, let alone the first side to win, their quality of play will need to remain high.