Sorensen determined to end Vancouver's goalscoring woes

Jesper Sorensen is confident the Vancouver Whitecaps can improve on their recent goalscoring troubles when they host FC Dallas in MLS.

Vancouver had got back to winning ways against Seattle Sounders last weekend, ending a run of three games without a victory (D2 L1).

However, they struggled to break down the Houston Dynamo in midweek, despite having 17 shots on goal, as they were beaten 1-0 at home.

It was a loss that saw them give up top spot in the Western Conference to Houston, and they will be determined to reclaim it this weekend, but Sorensen conceded they have big improvements to make.

"A lot of the shots we had were blocked. So they got bodies in between, and I think the pitch was slow," he said of the performance against Houston.

"It's [the pitch] still very slow, and it gives the defenders a chance of getting back and getting into position, and then we have opportunities where we just don't have the right quality on the finishing.

"We would like to have chances; we would like to play away from your own goal because that's not as dangerous. We do not give up. But right now, what the opponents have, they take it well. We'll keep working on it."

But Vancouver must face a Dallas side in strong form as they come into this match on the back of a three-game unbeaten streak (W2 D1).

They snatched a dramatic last-minute 4-3 win over Real Salt Lake on Wednesday and sit fifth in the West, only four points behind the Whitecaps, though they have played a game more.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Vancouver Whitecaps – Emmanuel Sabbi

The Whitecaps managed to hit the target with just one of their 17 shots against Houston.

Vancouver are the first team in over a year to take 15 or more shots in a regular-season match and hit fewer than two on target, with Emmanuel Sabbi the only player to test the goalkeeper.

FC Dallas – Petar Musa

Petar Musa scored two of Dallas' four goals in Wednesday's win, his fourth game with multiple goals this season.

His four multi-goal games are tied for the most in MLS this season (three others), as only Jason Kries (five in 1999) and Jesus Ferreira (five in 2022) have more in a season for Dallas.

MATCH PREDICTION: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WIN

Vancouver have lost just two of their 15 meetings with Dallas dating back to 2019 (W8 D5).

One of Dallas' two wins against the Whitecaps in that time was in their last regular-season match in Vancouver, a 2-1 win last October, though the Whitecaps won 3-0 at home in the playoffs eight days later.

The Whitecaps have lost three straight home matches in all competitions. This is Vancouver's first three-match losing run at home since October 2024, as the club had lost just five of 40 home matches in all competitions between those droughts (W26 D9).

Dallas, meanwhile, have won five of their last eight regular-season away matches, including two in a row.

They could post their second three-match road winning streak since the beginning of May after not winning three straight league games away from home since 2005 prior to that run.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Vancouver Whitecaps – 64.8%

Draw – 19.2%

FC Dallas – 16%