VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC conclude their three-match homestand at BC Place with a Cascadia Cup clash against Portland Timbers this Saturday, April 8. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. PT.
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The 'Caps, who will be hosting their second annual Vaisakhi Night on Saturday, are coming a 5-0 win against Canadian rivals CF Montréal in MLS action.
Meanwhile, the Timbers salvaged a last-gasp 1-1 draw against FC Dallas on the road, thanks to new signing Franck Boli's first MLS goal. Prior to the draw, the side were held to a 0-0 draw at home by LA Galaxy and were on a three-match losing streak dating back to March 4.
On Saturday, the 'Caps will be looking to build off their recent performances as they begin their quest for their seventh Cascadia Cup.
To get you set for the match, we look at Portland's players to watch, fixture history, and capitalizing on possession spells.
FIXTURE HISTORY
Saturday's match will mark the 102nd all-time meeting between the two sides in official competition, dating back to Portland's expansion season in the North American Soccer League in 1975.
The two sides will also meet for the 31st time in MLS regular season play, with the 'Caps claiming a narrow 1-1 road draw at Providence Park in the last encounter back on July 17, 2022.
The previous meeting at BC Place ended in a 3-2 win for the Timbers, with the 'Caps recording a whopping 2.51 expected goals.
ONES TO WATCH
Portland have been hit with an injury crisis to begin the year and will see several key faces miss Saturday's match against the 'Caps.
Forward Felipe Mora, attacking midfielder Sebastian Blanco, winger Yimmi Chara, and midfielder Eryk Williamson are all listed as out for this weekend.
All four can be headliners on the Timbers but there's still a pair of healthy faces that could make the difference on Saturday.
First up is fullback Juan Mosquera, who arrived in Portland towards the end of last season from Colombian side Independiente MedellÃn and already has a goal as well as an assist to his name this year.
The Colombian offers a tricky attacking threat from the fullback position with his nifty footwork on the ball and his ability to pick out teammates in the final third.Â
Of late, the Timbers have been playing with wingbacks and a backline of three so expect Mosquera to push up more than from his usual fullback position to help his side on the attack.
Another player who could potentially play a part for Portland on Saturday is record-breaking signing Evander.
The Brazilian attacking midfielder joined the Timbers after spending five seasons (2018-2022) at FC Midtjylland in Denmark, where he registered 50 goals and 38 assists in 167 appearances across all competitions.
With Midtjylland, Evander featured in UEFA Champions League and Europa League competition. At the time of joining the 'Caps Cascadia rivals, the playmaker led the Europa League in assists with five.
Evander has so far scored once in his maiden season in MLS but has missed plenty of action due to a hip injury and could potentially make his return on Saturday, with the Timbers not listing him as out for the match.
MAKING USE OF POSSESSION
Through their first six matches of the season, Portland have lost the possession battle four times, meaning they aren't big fans of holding on to the ball.
Head coach Gio Savarese has given his players the freedom to attempt line-breaking passes and going at opposing defenders whenever possible, but the strategy itself hasn't wielded much success in the early part of the season.
The Timbers' passing accuracy in their last two matches against LA Galaxy (71%) and FC Dallas (70%) are indicative of that. In fact, the team has tallied a passing accuracy above 79% all season, which in turn has led to the team struggling for goals and chances created.
On Saturday, it'll be key for the 'Caps to capitalize on the possession spells they're likely to have throughout the match to put Portland on the back foot defensively.
Simply put, if you watch Atlanta United FC's performance against the Timbers on March 18, it's a full clinic on how to make the most of possession and stretching Portland's backline to create good attacking angles at goal.
However, on the opposite side of things, the 'Caps will need to be wary of Portland's ability in transition, which is their main source for chance creation.
As mentioned previously, Savarese loves when his team plays direct into the final third, which is the reason why they can be so dangerous in transition.
If the 'Caps can stay discipline and patient in possession, they'll be able to create some havoc in the Timbers' final third.
Make sure to catch the 'Caps face off their Cascadia rivals Portland Timbers this Saturday, April 8 at BC Place in the club's second annual Vaisakhi Night. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. PT. Tickets to the match are still available at www.whitecapsfc.com/tickets. Can't make it to the match? Catch all the action live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, TSN1, TSN5, and AM730 (radio), with the radio pre-game show starting at 6:30 p.m. PT.
MLS Season Pass
The 2023 season will see the debut of MLS Season Pass, the unprecedented subscription service from Apple and MLS that will have every match of the regular season, Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, and Leagues Cup – all in one place and with no blackouts. As an exclusive benefit, Whitecaps FC 2023 Season Members will receive a subscription to MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, as well as significant savings over single match tickets.
