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VANCOUVER -- Carl Robinsons message was clear enough: Respect your opponents, but dont fear them. Even though the Vancouver Whitecaps (5-2-5) will be playing in a hostile environment at PPL Park, the team will carry a swagger into its Major League Soccer road game Saturday against the Philadelphia Union (3-7-5). "No game is easy," Robinson said earlier this week after the Whitecaps practised at the University of British Columbia. "There is no fear on this squad because they are playing well. "We will make them aware of how good Philadelphia are, because they are a good team. They havent picked up the results they probably want recently. .... But my players will never play with fear as long as Im here. Its important they go out and enjoy themselves. If they enjoy themselves they express themselves. If they express themselves, we play with a freedom and I think you can see an excitement in their football." The Whitecaps looked to be enjoying themselves in their final practice before leaving for Philadelphia. Several players engaged in a water fight which ended with English midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker emptying a cooler of ice water on Ghanian midfielder Gershon Koffie. Robinson looked on with a smile. The Whitecaps have earned the right to feel good about themselves. Their record gives them 20 points, good enough for fourth place in the Western Conference. Vancouver is coming off a 4-3 road victory over the Portland Timber last weekend, the first time the Whitecaps have beaten their Cascadia rivals in MLS play. Vancouver is unbeaten in six MLS games (3-0-3). The Whitecaps have scored 14 goals during that span, and only once managed fewer than two in a game. Vancouver also has two wins and a tie in their last three road games. While things are good, they could be better. The Whitecaps were up 4-1 against Portland but had to hold onto the victory. Vancouver has also allowed 11 goals over the last six games. "I think we can go to another level," said Robinson. "We have to tidy up a few things (defensively). We have to make sure we get back to basics on that and we will, without losing our attacking edge." The Union have struggled this season. They sit eighth in the Eastern Conference with 14 points but snapped a two-game losing skid with a 3-0 win over Chivas USA last weekend. Sebastien Le Toux, the French forward who has missed the last two Philadelphia matches with an injury, believes the team can still turn its season around. "I think its important to stay positive and keep working hard all the time," Le Toux, who could be in the lineup against Vancouver, told the Union website. "We havent had the type of start we were hoping for. "We just need to keep working and get this going in a good direction. We need to work as hard as we possibly can. We just have to find ways to do it on the field. I know we have the guys in here who can do it and we have be determined." One of the Whitecaps enjoying a breakout season is Erik Hurtado. The 23-year-old midfielder/forward scored once against Portland and drew a foul to set up another goal on a penalty kick. He also has scored a goal in the last four of Vancouvers games. Drafted fifth overall in last years MLS SuperDraft, the native of Fredericksburg, Va., struggled during his rookie season. He had speed to burn but sometimes looked like an unguided missile. He also had a heavy second touch on the ball. This year Hurtados play is more directed. Hes able to get open and can feather passes to his teammates. "Im more mature as a player," Hurtado said. "Ive learned in the centre-forward role how to move off the ball, how to get the ball in good places with space to turn, how to play off the defenders back, what runs to make." Whitecaps captain Jay DeMerit said Hurtados game is evolving. "Everyone has seen his raw talent over the last year," said DeMerit. "Now hes staring to rein that in a little bit more. "Hes starting to figure out what hes good at and what he can hurt defenders with. When he was able to figure that out, and control his game a little bit more, hes consistently got better." The game against the Union will be the Whitecaps last before the MLS breaks for the World Cup in Brazil. It will also be Vancouvers third road match in four games. DeMerit expects a physical match. "They are a fairly big team," he said. "You might have to do some set pieces and make sure we are tight there. "Its a long way from home so we have to make sure we are up and ready for it and start the game right. A lot of times in these away games . . . sometimes you start a little flat. I think for us its about making sure that doesnt happen, make sure we are ready from the whistle to do combat in our style of game. When weve been able to do that, home or away, we have seemed to get the right results, so that has to continue." Leandro Barbosa Suns Jersey . With one penalty, Fourcade finished in 24 minutes, 58.2 seconds, just nine-tenths of a second ahead of Timofey Lapshin, who shot clean in the cold. Custom Phoenix Suns Jerseys . Advancing to the Champions League quarterfinals should be a formality after Lionel Messi scored a penalty and Dani Alves added a late second to secure a commanding 2-0 advantage over City in the round of 16 on Tuesday. http://www.officialsunsfanstore.com/dragan-bender-suns-jersey/ . - The width of Alec Martinezs shin guard was the difference between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks in their playoff series opener. Devin Booker Jersey . -- James Harden scored 31 points, including 25 in the second half, and the Houston Rockets dug out of a double-digit, first-half hole to beat the Orlando Magic 101-89 on Wednesday night. Richaun Holmes Jersey . Dancevic won his singles match on Friday, defeating Go Soeda 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-1, to even the best-of-five series at a game apiece. World No. 18 Kei Nishikori defeated Peter Polansky in the opening match, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.At the completion of the preliminary round of the 2014 Olympic mens hockey tournament, Canada is where most people expected them to be; unbeaten and the top team of Group B with a bye to the quarter-finals. Canadas goaltending has been solid - having allowed just two goals in three games – and offensively, the team has dominated puck possession and scored 11 goals. Only the United States and Finland have scored more. However, Canadas 3-1 win over Norway and 6-0 rout of Austria left many fans unconvinced of whether or not the team could compete with fellow tournament juggernauts the United States, Sweden and Russia. The team failed to answer those questions on Sunday with a 2-1 overtime win over Finland, with their only goals coming from defenceman Drew Doughty. Team Canada has failed to find offensive lines that can consistently produce and have split up NHL teammates Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz, as well as Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp in attempts to find scoring. Following Canadas victory over Finland, head coach Mike Babcock promised further line changes to try to spark his slumping forwards. With Canada exiting the group round with many questions still to be answered – including whom to pair with Crosby – can the team compete with the steady units of the United States and Sweden, or with the host team of Russia? Canada will not play again until Wednesdays quarter-finals, when they take on the winner of Switzerland vs. Latvia. Switzerland has proven to be a tough team in this tournamennt and, while they have struggled to produce offence, the team has allowed just one goal in three games – to Sweden in a 1-0 loss.dddddddddddd Goaltender Jonas Hiller has yet to allow a goal and has proven to be one of the top goalies in Sochi. Though Canadas goaltender controversy appears to be put to bed, many questions still loom over the defending Olympic champions. Atop the list questions is who will be scratched for Canadas quarter-final game? Through three games Matt Duchene, Patrick Sharp, Martin St. Louis and Dan Hamhuis have all sat once, while reigning Norris Trophy winner P.K. Subban has been scratched twice. Another major question for Canada is how to spark its forwards, since defenceman Drew Doughty and Shea Weber have accounted for six of the teams 11 goals. Winger Jeff Carter is the only forward on the team with multiple goals – he scored a hat trick against Austria. An unconvincing group round is not new for Canada, as the team was forced to play in the qualification playoffs at Vancouver 2010 after a shootout win over Switzerland and a regulation loss to Team USA. The team went on to win four straight games and the gold medal. In fact, Canada has not posted a perfect preliminary round at the Olympics since the 1998 Games in Nagano, Japan. With so many questions still to be answered for Team Canada and without the home ice advantage they enjoyed in Vancouver, the question has to be asked; is Canada ready to beat the top teams at Sochi 2014? As always its Your! Call. ' ' '