PORTLAND, OR – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (6W-5L-2D) will look to extend their winning streak to four matches on Sunday afternoon when they visit Portland Timbers (3W-6L-3D) in an MLS Rivalry Week matchup at Providence Park.
KICKOFF: 1:30 p.m. PT | TV: TSN 1/ESPN | RADIO: TSN 1040
Here’s everything you need to know about the match.
<strong><b>PRE-MATCH<br>
INTERVIEWS:</b></strong> |
<a href="//www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2016/05/18/carl-robinson-may-18?autoplay=true" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://vancouver-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/interview_robinson_w.png" style="width: 140px; height: 60px; "></a><a href="//www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2016/05/18/kekuta-manneh-may-18?autoplay=true" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://vancouver-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/2016_interview_Manneh.png" style="width: 140px; height: 60px; "></a><a href="//www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2016/05/18/david-ousted-may-18?autoplay=true" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://vancouver-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/2015_interview_ousted.png" style="width: 140px; height: 60px;"></a> |
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
The ‘Caps have been on quite the roll as of late – and it all started on May 7 with a 2-1 win over Portland at BC Place. It wasn’t necessarily the result as much as it was the performance.
Whitecaps FC controlled 57 per cent of possession and outshot the Timbers 26-10, producing one of their most dominating performances in recent memory. And they followed it up with a 2-1 midweek win over Chicago Fire and a thrilling 4-3 victory over Toronto FC at BMO Field.
Can they make it four in a row on Sunday?
The ‘Caps have only won four straight matches once before in their MLS history.
PORTLAND TIMBERS
At the other end of the spectrum is Portland, who have now lost three straight matches.
Their most recent defeat was a 2-1 loss to New York City FC. To make matters worse, striker Fanendo Adi left the match in the 58th minute with a hamstring injury. Adi is listed as questionable for Sunday’s contest – as is standout defensive midfielder Diego Chara (foot).
The Timbers are also without goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey (torn ligament in finger), right back Alvas Powell (torn ligament in wrist), and former ‘Caps striker Darren Mattocks (torn meniscus). But they still have enough firepower do so some real damage in midfielders Darlington Nagbe and Diego Valeri, who leads MLS with 46 chances created.
KEY MATCHUPS:
Pedro Morales/Matias Laba (M) vs. Darlington Nagbe/Diego Valeri (M): The midfield battle is going to be key in this one. Nagbe and Valeri are two of the best in MLS, and so are Pedro Morales and Matias Laba. Last week may have been Morales’ best in a Whitecaps FC uniform – on both sides of the ball. He’ll need to be up for a fight again on Sunday.
Kekuta Manneh (LW) vs. Zarek Valentin (RB): Manneh is coming off a mesmerizing two-goal, one assist performance that earned him MLS Player of the Week honours. The key for Manneh, now, is to find that consistency. The key for Zarek Valentin, who has been filling in for Powell at right back, will be to stop him.
DISCIPLINARY REPORT
Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson will be forced to make at least one change to his lineup on Sunday, as right back Fraser Aird will be serving a one-match suspension after picking up a pair of yellow cards last weekend in Toronto. Also of note, strikers Octavio Rivero and Blas Perez will be suspended with their next yellow cards due to caution accumulation.
CASCADIA CUP STANDINGS
The ‘Caps enter Sunday’s contest atop the Cascadia Cup standings with a perfect 2W-0L-0D record thus far, having defeated Seattle and Portland by identical 2-1 scorelines.
This will be the third Cascadia matchup of the year.
<strong>TEAM</strong> |
<strong>POINTS</strong> |
<strong>GP</strong> |
<strong>W</strong> |
<strong>L</strong> |
<strong>D</strong> |
<strong>GF</strong> |
<strong>GA</strong> |
<strong>GD</strong> |
<p align="center">Vancouver Whitecaps FC</p> |
<p align="center">6</p> |
<p align="center">2</p> |
<p align="center">2</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">4</p> |
<p align="center">2</p> |
<p align="center">2</p> |
<p align="center">Seattle Sounders FC</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
<p align="center">2</p> |
<p align="center">-1</p> |
<p align="center">Portland Timbers</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
<p align="center">2</p> |
<p align="center">-1</p> |
Need a Cascadia Cup refresher ahead of Sunday's match? Click here for a primer.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Portland still has the edge over Vancouver in MLS play with a 7W-3L-7D record, but there hasn’t been much between the two sides over the last few seasons. Last year, they met five times between the regular season and playoffs – each team won a match and they drew three times.
This will be the second of three meetings between the Cascadia rivals this season.
Their final encounter will take place on Sunday, October 23 at BC Place in both teams’ regular season finale – a match that will have an expanded capacity of 25,000.
QUOTABLE
Robinson on Portland’s recent form: “It makes no different, does it? On derby days, everything goes out the window. I said that prior to when we play Seattle, Portland, or Toronto. It doesn’t really matter. We’ve got to make sure we continue doing the positive things we’ve done, but we continue with the work as well. The work they’ve put in has been phenomenal.”
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