Vancouver Whitecaps v San Jose Earthquakes: Sorensen confident Gauld's return can fuel playoff success

Jesper Sorensen believes the return of Vancouver Whitecaps talisman Ryan Gauld could be a catalyst for a strong run in this season's playoffs. 

Gauld, who has missed the last seven months with a knee injury, was on target in his side's Canadian Championship triumph over Vancouver FC in midweek. 

Having replaced Thomas Muller in the 79th minute, Gauld made an instant impact by finding the back of the net four minutes after his introduction during the 4-2 win.

Vancouver's victory secured their fourth straight Canadian Championship, although Sorensen was more focused on the importance of having Gauld back in the fold. 

"He's been the team's captain for a while now, and he has been one of the best players for this club since he arrived," Sorensen said.

"He is an important player for us, and he means a lot. He brings a lot on the pitch, but also off the pitch as well."

And while Gauld was pleased to put several months of misery behind him, he insisted he would not rush his comeback ahead of Vancouver's postseason campaign. 

"It felt really good," Gauld said. "Obviously, it was a really long time to be out when we were expecting it to be a lot less. To finally get back on the pitch was great. 

"Hopefully, now we can put all of that knee trouble behind us. I just need to try and get minutes under my belt. I need to slowly build it up to avoid any setbacks."

Gauld will be hoping to have a similar impact in the MLS this weekend as Vancouver welcome the San Jose Earthquakes to BC Place up next. 

The Earthquakes are clinging on to the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, sitting ninth and level on points with FC Dallas, who also boast a game in hand. 

But Bruce Arena's team gave their chances of a postseason spot a huge boost last time out after they downed leaders San Diego FC 1-0 thanks to Josef Martinez's early goal.

"I'm sure it gives us some confidence," Arena said of beating a top-tier team in the West.

"We're going against another good team Sunday in Vancouver, a difficult venue to play in, but I think we'll go there with a lot of confidence that we can win the game.

"They hung in there in a tough game, something we haven't been able to do this year. To get it done at an important time in the season. I applaud the effort by the team."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Vancouver Whitecaps – Brian White

White set a new single-season career high with 16 goals this season by scoring against Seattle on Saturday, his fifth straight regular-season match with a goal.

He is the second player in Whitecaps history to score in five straight league matches, after Camilo Sanvezzo, who did so between June and July 2013.

SJ Earthquakes – Josef Martinez

Martinez, who scored the only goal in San Jose's win on Saturday, has scored five goals in four career matches against Vancouver.

His 1.29 goals per 90 minutes against the Whitecaps is his second-best average against a single team, only doing better against his current club, San Jose (1.64).

MATCH PREDICTION: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WIN

The 36 all-time regular-season meetings between Vancouver and San Jose have been split evenly, with each team winning 12 times and playing 12 draws. The Whitecaps do, however, hold a one-goal advantage over this weekend’s opponents in the all-time series, 51-50.

Vancouver have also lost only two of their 15 home matches this season (W9 D4), with the nine home wins tied for the third-most in a single season in club history. The Whitecaps have 31 points at home this season, two off the record of 33 set in 2021 and equalled in 2022.

San Jose, meanwhile, earned their sixth road win of the season with a victory at San Diego. This is the first time the Earthquakes have won six away matches in a single season since totalling nine wins on the road in 2012.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Vancouver Whitecaps – 65.5%

Draw – 18.6%

SJ Earthquakes – 15.9%