The Vancouver Whitecaps haven't won since their opening match, but the expansion team feels like it's heading in the right direction.
In a matchup of the two worst clubs in the Western Conference, the Whitecaps look to build on an encouraging result when they host a San Jose Earthquakes team trying to avoid a fourth straight league loss.
Vancouver (1-4-4) opened MLS play in stellar fashion, defeating Toronto FC 4-2 on March 19, but victories have been elusive ever since.
The Whitecaps took a step forward Saturday, playing to a scoreless draw with Chicago to earn their first point on the road this season. They were outscored 6-2 in losing their first three away games.
"Getting a result here (will) hopefully give us a lot of fire for Wednesday," goalkeeper Jay Nolly said, "and we can try to get three points because that's something we need right now."
With seven points, Vancouver is eighth in the West, two points ahead of last-place San Jose.
The Earthquakes (1-4-2) haven't been much better than Vancouver of late, dropping three in a row and going 0-3-2 in their last five. They've been outscored 6-1 during the losing streak, their longest since suffering five consecutive defeats April 25-May 27, 2009.
San Jose hasn't played a league game since losing 1-0 to Philadelphia on April 30, but it did defeat Portland 1-0 in a U.S. Open Cup qualifying match last Tuesday.
Ike Opara scored at the end of the second overtime period, and the Earthquakes hope that was a sign of things to come.
Opara, the third overall pick in the 2010 draft, missed most of last year with a broken foot and has been limited to four matches this year because of hip and groin strains.
"He's an athlete, and we've got to make sure he's finely tuned and he's not feeling any pain," coach Frank Yallop told the Earthquakes' website. "When he's not (feeling pain), he's done well."
Vancouver is hoping Jay DeMerit will be pain-free Wednesday, as the captain has missed seven of the last eight matches because of a groin injury.
Whitecaps forward Eric Hassli returned this past weekend after a one-game suspension for accumulating five yellow cards.
Hassli, tied with Camilo for the team lead with three goals, had an excellent chance to score against the Fire in the 74th minute. He received a long pass and had a one-on-one situation with Chicago keeper Jay Conway but dribbled right into him.
"We created a few really good chances that maybe we should have put away, and next time we will," midfielder Blake Wagner said.
