High-flying Whitecaps set sights on scuffling St. Louis City

The team that leads MLS in scoring meets the team that went nearly a month between goals.

That's the main storyline Saturday night when the league-leading Vancouver Whitecaps travel east for a matchup with St. Louis City SC.

While Vancouver (6-1-1, 19 points) is sailing along at the top of the standings, St. Louis (2-4-2, 8 points) has lost its last four matches, including a 2-1 defeat Sunday night at home against Columbus. While Brazilian Joao Klauss did score St. Louis' first goal since March 15, the team was also badly out-possessed, particularly in the first half.

"We really have to look at how we can really improve there and get better movement and variation in our attacks," St. Louis coach Olof Mellberg said.

The recent acquisition of Daniel Gazdag from Philadelphia will help St. Louis generate more offense. Gazdag appeared to have notched the equalizing marker against Columbus during second-half stoppage time, but the play was flagged for offsides.

Klauss said the team needs to get going.

"We have time but if we don't win games now, it will be difficult," he said.

That's not a problem for Vancouver, which got a franchise-record four goals from Brian White in a 5-1 rout of Austin FC on April 12. If the past is any guide, White might be in line for another big night. He tallied a hat trick last year when the Whitecaps beat St. Louis 4-3.

White's six goals are a big reason why Vancouver leads the league with 17 in eight matches. And the Whitecaps may be on the verge of bringing back defender Sam Adekugbe, who scored two goals in his first two matches before being sidelined with a quad injury last month.

"We have a tough schedule going ahead and we need all the forces and all the players that we can manage, that we can have," Whitecaps coach Jesper Sorensen said.

Vancouver owns a 3-1-0 lead in the teams' brief series, winning three in a row.

--Field Level Media