The 'Caps are back at BC Place on Sunday with another massive home match, this time against Sporting Kansas City. The Blue and White enter the weekend only one point outside of the final playoff spot, and only two points from fifth place. All three teams ahead of them play on Saturday.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Sporting Kansas City
Sunday, October 17, 2021 – 7 p.m. PT
BC Place, Vancouver, BC
BROADCAST: TSN1 - RADIO: AM730 - ONLINE: TSN Direct
Pre-match show: 6 p.m. PT (AM730)
INJURY REPORT
OUT
Caio Alexandre
DOUBTFUL
Andy Rose
QUESTIONABLE
Lucas Cavallini
Érik Godoy
Ranko Veselinović
BACK AT BC PLACE: This Sunday, October 17, Vancouver Whitecaps FC host their eighth annual Pride Night when Sporting Kansas City visit BC Place in a crucial Western Conference match-up. Ever since the ’Caps return to BC Place in late August, the Blue and White have tallied a 5W-1L-0D record and are averaging two goals per game, which is tied for the second best average in goals scored at home in the league. The ’Caps have also registered a total of 9.95 expected goals and created 77 chances in their six games at BC Place. Defensively, Vancouver have not conceded in their last 204 minutes at BC Place, keeping clean sheets in their last two home matches. BC Place is quickly becoming a fortress for the ‘Caps and could prove to be a massive advantage in the last weeks of the season and their hopes to claim a playoff spot.
PLAYOFF HUNT: Despite their Cascadia Cup derby loss last weekend, the 'Caps are still firmly in the running for a spot in the 2021 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. Vancouver currently sit in eighth in the West, a single point outside the playoffs behind seventh place Minnesota United FC, as well as two points behind sixth place LA Galaxy and fifth place Real Salt Lake. Depending on other results on the weekend, a win this Sunday could see the 'Caps jump as high as fifth in the West.
'CAPS ON A ROLL: Throughout the past couple weeks, there's been plenty of 'Caps rounding into good late-season form. Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau, who will be available for selection on Sunday after returning from Canada’s men's national team, is currently riding the longest active shutout streak in MLS at 332 minutes and sits third in the West in clean sheets with six. Up front, attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld currently ranks third in the league in key passes per game with 2.8 and has also registered an assist in each of the past two games, while striker Brian White has scored the team's last six goals to reach the 10-goal mark, becoming the seventh 'Caps player to reach double digits in goals in the club's MLS era.
